firstnight

First night, also written as first-night, is a term with several uses in English. It most commonly refers to the initial night of a significant event occurring on its first day, such as a couple’s wedding night or the premiere of a performance or broadcast. The meaning depends on context and is often clarified by accompanying words (for example, wedding night, opening night, or premiere).

In cultural contexts, the first night can symbolize the transition into marriage and is sometimes imagined as a period of privacy or ritual, though practices and significance vary widely between cultures and individuals. In the arts, opening night is the standard term for the first public performance of a play, concert, or film; historically, first night was used to denote the premiere, though modern usage favors opening night or simply premiere.

In media and publishing, First Night appears as a title for various works, including novels, films, and television episodes. Because of this, many search results require disambiguation to identify a specific work. The phrase also appears in idiomatic expressions that emphasize novelty, risk, or the ceremonial aspects of a first public showing.

Hyphenation and capitalization can alter meaning: first night (general event night), first-night (as a compound adjective), and First Night (title case) may refer to different senses. Overall, the term is polyvalent and its precise sense is determined by the surrounding context.