[Avodah] Why is the minhag to say selichos right after chatzos on the first night?

[Zev Sero]

Marty Bluke wrote:
> The prevalent minhag has become to say selichos right after chatzos on
> the first night of selichos. What is the makor for this? In shulchan
> aruch it says that the minhag is to get up early to say selichos. I
> didn't see anywhere a distinction between the first night and the
> other days. It is clear from the shulchan aruch and mefarshav that the
> best time to say selichos is a little before alos hashachar.

I think it's because of the piyut "bemotzaei menucha kidamnucha
techila".  Sunday morning is no longer "motzaei menucha".  Which of
course punts the question to whoever wrote the piyut.  Or perhaps
the minhag is older than the piyut, and your question is reinstated.

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Zev Sero                      The trouble with socialism is that you
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