HAPPY YALDA (WINTER SOLSTICE FESTIVAL)

Happy First day of winter or happy Yalda. Yaldā also known as Shab-e-Yalda is celebrated on the eve of the first day of the winter (21 or 22 December) in the Iranian calendar, which falls on the Winter Solstice (the longest night of the year or the shortest day of the year). It celebrates the birth of Sun god Mithra.The festival was considered extremely important in pre-Islamic Iran and continues to be celebrated to this day, a period of more than 6000 years. Some historians believe that the festival spread to Europe through contacts between the Roman and Persian empires and was eventually replaced by Christmas; a theory that accounts for the celebration of Christmas on 25 December, rather than the later date of January 6 that is believed to be the correct date of birth of Christ by eastern orthodox church.

Yalda, a Syriac word (ܝܠܕܐ) imported into the Persian language by the Syriac Christians means birth (tavalod and meelaad are from the same origin) and generally refers to Christmas in the Syriac language.
The Persian traditions merged in ancient Rome, in a festival to the ancient god of seedtime, Saturn. The Romans exchanged gifts, partied and decorated their homes with greenery. Following the Persian tradition, the usual order of the year was suspended. Grudges and quarrels forgotten, wars would be interrupted or postponed. Businesses, courts and schools were closed. Rich and poor became equal, masters served slaves, and children headed the family. Cross-dressing and masquerades, merriment of all kinds prevailed. A mock king, the Lord of Misrule, was crowned. Candles and lamps chased away the spirits of darkness...Read more


From this day forward, light triumphs as the days grow longer and give more light. This celebration comes in the Persian month of Day, which was also the name of the pre-zoroastrain creator god (light or Day). On this night bonfires are lit outside, while inside famil and friends gather ina night-long vigil around the korsi (Russian origin), a low square table covered with a thick cloth overhanging on all sides. A brazier with hot coals is placed under the table. All night the family and friends sit on large cushions around the korsi . On this night the oldest memeber of the family says prayers, thank God for the previous year's crops, and prays for the prosperity of next years's harvest. Then with a sharp knife cuts the melon, and the watermelon and gives everyone a share. The cutting symbolizes the removal of sickness and pain from the family. Snacks are passed around throught the night; pomegranates with angelica powder and combination of nuts and dried fruits. This mixture of nuts literally means night-gazing; eating nuts is said to lead to prosperty in days to come. More substantial fare for the night's feast include eggplant stew with plain saffron-flavored rice; and rice with chicken; thick yogurt; and carrot brownies. The food themselves symbolize the balance of seasons. On into the night of festivities , the family keeps the fires burning and the lights glowing to help the sun in its battle against darkness.

They recite poetry and play music, tell stories, talk and eat and eat an talk until the sun, triumphnatly, reapperas in the morning.

May light triumph darkness every day and in every heart.

This year winter solstice is on December 22 at 00.20 Universal time.

*UT=Universal Time