First Light 2022 Event Cache

Celebrating the New Year in Japan means paying special attention to the "first" time something is done in the New Year. Hatsuhinode is the first sunrise of the year. Before sunrise on January 1, people often drive to the coast or climb a mountain so that they can see the first sunrise of the New Year. The real celebration does not begin until sunrise when the traditional meal of vegetables, seafood and dessert is served in one dish - the different types of food symbolizing prosperity.

In Asia, sunrise celebrations and honoring of the ancestors and elders brings luck.

Koreans make wishes for the New Year while watching the sunrise. Some wear traditional clothing. Family members gather early in the morning to remember their ancestors. After the observance, they eat a kind of rice cake soup. Koreans believe that eating this food will add an extra year to their life. After the meal, young people lower their heads to honor their parents and older adults. This means good health and good wishes. Many parents give the children money.

Vietnamese people get up and put on new clothes at sunrise.

Mongolians have a tradition to climb the nearest sacred hill or mountain on the first morning of the New year, offering dishes and burning juniper and incense sticks to welcome the New Year.

2022 is the year of the Water Tiger. The Tiger Occupies the 2nd position on the Chinese Zodiac. The Tiger is known as the king of all beasts in China. The zodiac sign Tiger is a symbol of strength, exorcising evils, and braveness. They are very charming and well-liked by others. But sometimes they are likely to be impetuous, irritable, and overindulgent.

Famous Tiger Year People
Tom Cruise: born on July 3, 1962, a Water Tiger

Plan on being early enough to witness the sunrise. We'll start to gather around 6:30 a.m. and hang till about 7:30 a.m. then head to breakfast. Happy New Year Everyone.