Yalda Night

Historical Roots

Yalda Night (شب یلدا) is an ancient Persian festival celebrated on the longest and darkest night of the year, which is exactly the beginning of winter in Persian calendar (around December 20-21). Yalda is a Syriac word meaning “birth” and it refers to the Sun God, Mithra. Mithra is the Zoroastrian deity of light, truth, and justice.

The festival marks the triumph of light over darkness, as the night of the winter solstice symbolises the rebirth of the sun and longer days ahead. Ancient Persians believed that Yalda Night is one minute longer than any other nights of the year. That is why it is called the longest night of the year. The following day, sunlight represented victory over darkness, and it was considered an auspicious start to year’s winter season.

Celebration

Yalda Night is celebrated as a cultural event that emphasizes the importance of family, tradition, and optimism for the future. It is a time for family gatherings, feasting, and storytelling.

So the night starts with family members gathering together and eating seasonal fruits and nuts. The most iconic fruits of Yalda are watermelon, symbolising the warmth of summer and protection against winter illness, and pomegranate symbolises cycle of life and the sunrise.

After feasting, families read the poems of Hafez, famous Persian poet, to seek guidance or inspiration through Fal-e Hafez, which is a form of bibliomancy.