First sunrise
{{Short description|Custom}}
File:2017 nen Gantan Hatsuhinode 20170101.jpg (Kakegawa City, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan)]]
File:Ja-hokkaido-sohyamisaki-1.jpg, Hokkaido, Japan)]]
File:Eishōsai Chōki (1790) Hatsuhinode (Adachi reprint) (compressed).jpg.]]
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
In Japan, the observation of the first sunrise of the year ({{langx|ja|初日の出|translit=Hatsu-Hinode}}) on the first day on the Old Calendar has been part of the traditional Shintoist worship of Amaterasu, the sun goddess.{{cite web|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2016/12/29/lifestyle/first-sunrise-year-brings-luck/|title=First sunrise of the year brings luck|first=Yuki|last=Yamauchi|date=29 December 2016|website=The Japan Times}} 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
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.{{cite web |url = https://www.selenatravel.com/blog/tsagaan-sar |title = Tsagaan Sar - The Lunar New Year of Mongolia |website = Selena Travel discovery, cultural, adventure, and tailored tours }}{{cite web |url = http://www.touristinfocenter.mn/en/cate3_more.aspx?ItemID=60 |title = Nomads winter: Tsagaan sar - Mongolian Lunar New Year :: www.touristinfocenter.mn |website = www.touristinfocenter.mn }}
Korea
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. Pohang Homigot, Ulleung County and Jeongdongjin are famous place to watch first sunrise.{{cite web|url=https://gracingkorea.wordpress.com/2014/12/14/celebrate-the-new-year-with-the-first-sunrise/|title=First sunrise - Celebrate the new year with the first Sunrise|first=Grace|last=Wong|date=14 December 2014|website=Gracing Korea}}
Canada, Greenland, Russia and the United States
In the Arctic circle, the Inuit, Yupik, Aleut, Chukchi and the Iñupiat observe the first sunrise on the first day of the year ({{langx|iu|ᓯᕗᓪᓕᖅᐹᒥ ᓯᕿᓂᖅ ᓴᖅᑭᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᒥ}}) by extinguishing three qulliqs and relighting them.{{cite web|url=https://www.deseret.com/1999/1/18/19423714/ancient-ceremony-marks-new-dawn-in-canada-arctic-br-lamps-lighted-as-sun-rises-in-new-inuit-territor/|title=Ancient ceremony marks new dawn in Canada arctic Lamps lighted as sun rises in new Inuit territory|date=18 January 1999|website=Deseret News}}{{cite web|url=https://nunatsiaq.com/stories/article/dawn_of_a_new_year/|title=Dawn of a new year|date=17 January 2013|website=Nunatsiaq}} This is to honour the sun and moon.
== See also ==
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category|First sunrise}}
{{Arctic topics}}