① 宵、夕方の薄暗さ。② 陰暦十五日以降の月が出るまでの間の暗さ。特に月の出が遅くなる陰暦十六日頃から二十日頃までの宵の暗さ。その時刻。中秋の名月を過ぎてからの宵の暗さ。
small festival on the eve of the main festival (esp. of the Gion festival)
night owl; nighthawk; late bird; to stay up late; to keep late hours
small festival held the night before the main festival; eve of a festival
the worst goes foremost; those one eagerly await will not arrive first