The tradition of worshiping the morning sun on New Year's Day has deep roots in Mongolian culture, where people express reverence to the heavens at sunrise by offering dairy products, alcohol, and tea, as well as sprinkling the sky.
This ritual symbolizes luck and prosperity in the coming year, and the appearance of the first sun determines its color and embodies the light that the new year will bring, making it an important element of the New Year celebration at the beginning of spring.
“I am very pleased to be part of this ancient Mongolian tradition — welcoming the first sunrise of 2026 and greeting all the blessings and good fortune it will bring. Happy New Year, my dear friends, family, and colleagues both in Mongolia and the United States!” — shared Ambassador Richard L. Buangan on his social media page.
Richard Lee Buangan, serving as the U.S. Ambassador to Mongolia since November 2022, is a diplomat with extensive experience. He was born and raised in a Filipino-American family in San Diego, where he earned a bachelor's degree in political science and economics from St. Edward's University.
Tatar S. Maidar
source: MiddleAsianNews
