By Mostafa Elyasi
Yalda Night, also known as “Night of the Chelle”, is one of the oldest and most important festivals in Iran, celebrated to mark the longest night of the year on December 21 (30 Azar). This night marks the time when darkness reaches its peak and the days begin to get longer again from the next day. In the solar calendar, this change coincides with the beginning of winter and was seen in ancient times as the victory of light over darkness
The roots of the Yalda festival go back to the ancient Persian era: the festival was already included in the official calendar of the Achaemenid Empire under Darius I around 500 BC. The Achaemenid Empire was a Persian empire (550-330 BC) that stretched from Asia Minor to India and was known for its advanced administration and cultural tolerance. It also played an important role in ancient times and in Mithraism, a cult originating in Persia.
Yalda is not only known in Iran. This night is also celebrated in countries such as Afghanistan, Tajikistan and parts of Azerbaijan and Kurdistan. There are cultural differences in each of these countries, but the main theme of the festival – the victory of light and the new beginning of nature – remains the same.
A central element of Yalda night in Iran is the gathering of the family. Family members often gather in the house of the elders and spend the night reading poems, telling stories and reading stories aloud. Reading poems by the famous 14th century poet Hafiz and drawing lots from his poetry collection, the Divan, is another important part of the celebration and reflects the literary culture of Iran.
Another important ritual on Yalda night is the eating of certain fruits, especially watermelons and pomegranates. The watermelon symbolizes the warmth of summer, and the red pomegranate seeds represent joy and the rebirth of nature. These fruits are served on the Yalda table together with special sweets and nuts.
Yalda is a symbol of cohesion, love of nature and respect for the ancestors, as it embodies universal themes such as light and darkness and the hope of brighter days.
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