When once again, Yalda Night is approaching as an event of heat, love, and togetherness valued by all fans of the Persian culture.The festivity might have its roots in security versus evil forces when ancient people gathered to open fires and remain awake, ensuring safety up until dawn.time, this progressed into a celebration of lights rebirth and products triumph over evil.
From another point of view, the term Yalda implies birth, describing the birth of Mithra, the ancient Persian symbol of light and truth.Also called Shab-e Yalda or Shab-e Chelleh, this ancient festival is hung on the winter season solstice, the longest and darkest night of the year.
This year, it falls on Friday night, December 20.
Today, it stays a cherished event in Iran and beyond.
Households prepare special meals and appreciate fruits, nuts, and sugary foods conserved specifically for this event.
It is a time for delight, gratitude, and connection, marking the end of darkness and the start of light.On Yalda Night, families and friends collect to light fires, share meals, and delight in fruits and nuts, especially watermelon and pomegranate.
These red fruits symbolize the crimson shades of dawn and the hope of more vibrant days to come.Another cherished custom is the recitation of poetry, particularly from the works of Hafez.
Numerous family medicines fal-e Hafez, a type of prophecy using his verses.
Senior family members also share stories and anecdotes, enriching the nights warm atmosphere.In 2022, UNESCO added Yalda Night to its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, highlighting its significance as a foundation of Persian culture and tradition.Yaldas roots trace back countless years, possibly to the second millennium BC, and even, according to some sources, earlier to the 4th millennium BC.
In Zoroastrian tradition, the night represented the peak of darkness and the forces of evil.Yalda Night is likewise celebrated throughout Greater Iran, consisting of Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Tajikistan, Iraqi Kurdistan, and parts of Turkey, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan.Through its abundant blend of history, poetry, and treasured rituals, Yalda continues to represent hope and unity to underpin the enduring victory of light over darkness.AM