Summary
The first sunrise refers to the custom of observing the first sunrise of the year. Such a custom may be just an observation of the sunrise on a special day, or has a religious meaning for those who worship the Sun, such as the followers of traditional religions in Korea and Japan and the Inuit, Yupik, Aleut, Chukchi and the Iñupiat in the Arctic Circle, for praying for good luck.
Japan edit
In Japan, the observation of the first sunrise of the year (Japanese: 初日の出, romanized: Hatsu-Hinode) on the first day on the Old Calendar has been part of the traditional Shintoist worship of Amaterasu, the sun goddess.[1] Nowadays, Japanese travel agents arrange trips to observe the earliest first sunrise of the year on the new Gregorian calendar in the easternmost Ogasawara Islands of the Japanese archipelago.
Mongolia edit
In Mongolia, there is a custom of observing the first sunrise on the first day of the year at the top of the mountain the Mongolian lunisolar calendar. commonly known as Tsagaan Sar. The holiday has shamanistic influences.[2][3]
Korea edit
In Korea, there is also a custom of observing the first sunrise on the first day of the year, either on the traditional Korean calendar or the new calendar.[4]
Canada, Greenland, Russia and the United States edit
In the Arctic circle, the Inuit, Yupik, Aleut, Chukchi and the Iñupiat observe the first sunrise on the first day of the year (Inuktitut: ᓯᕗᓪᓕᖅᐹᖅ ᓯᕿᓂᖅᓄᐃᔪᖅ) by extinguishing three qulliqs and relighting them to worship both Malina and Igaluk.[5][6]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ Yamauchi, Yuki (29 December 2016). "First sunrise of the year brings luck". The Japan Times.
- ^ "Tsagaan Sar - The Lunar New Year of Mongolia". Selena Travel discovery, cultural, adventure, and tailored tours.
- ^ "Nomads winter: Tsagaan sar - Mongolian Lunar New Year :: www.touristinfocenter.mn". www.touristinfocenter.mn.
- ^ Wong, Grace (14 December 2014). "First sunrise - Celebrate the new year with the first Sunrise". Gracing Korea.
- ^ "Ancient ceremony marks new dawn in Canada arctic Lamps lighted as sun rises in new Inuit territory". Deseret News. 18 January 1999.
- ^ "Dawn of a new year". Nunatsiaq. 17 January 2013.
External links edit
