Evening
Informally, the evening refers to the period in which the daylight is decreasing, between the afternoon and night; it extends from the latter portion of the daylight (before sunset) until dark (after sunset).
A formal definition is used for religious purposes. For instance, the Israelite priesthood of the Old Testament in the Bible, was required to perform certain duties "at even(ing)". However, this definition is controversial. There are two prevailing views:
- The last quarter of the daylight portion of the day, before sunset. This view was held by the Jewish Pharesees and is supported in historical references such as Josephus and the Bible.
- The twilight before dark, after sunset. This view was held by the Samaritans.
Some Uses of 'Evening'
Some flowers, like the evening primrose open their petals only during this time of the day.
The evening newspapers are newspapers that are printed late in order to include last-hour news and are usually available only after noon.
The Evening Star is a name for the planet of Venus, which can appears brilliantly on the western sky after sunset, being also the first star that can be seen.
Evening is also used euphemistically to refer to the latter part of a person's life.