also: そや
wedding night; first night of marriage
Refers to the first night after a wedding ceremony; somewhat formal or literary.
The two spent their wedding night quietly.
first watch of the night
Historical term for the first division of the night in the old timekeeping system; rarely used in modern contexts.
In the old time system, the first watch of the night corresponds to the hour of the dog.
Standard kanji spelling for both senses; reading しょや is the most common.
Alternate reading, less common; may appear in older or literary contexts.
Compound of 初 (first) and 夜 (night). The reading しょや is the standard on'yomi combination; そや is an older or alternative reading.