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.
wedding night
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.