What is Shab-e-Yalda in Iran?
Yaldā Night (Persian: شب یلدا shab-e yalda) or Chelle Night (Persian: شب چلّه shab-e chelle) is an Iranian Northern Hemisphere’s winter solstice festival celebrated on the “longest and darkest night of the year.” Shab-e Yalda was officially added to Iran’s List of National Treasures in a special ceremony in 2008.
How do they celebrate Shab-e-Yalda?
On Shab-e-Yalda, people gather in groups of friends or relatives usually at the home of grandparents or the elderly to pass the longest night of the year happily by eating nuts and fruits, reading Hafiz poems, making good wishes, and talking and laughing all together to give a warm welcome to winter, and a felicitous …
Why do Persians celebrate Yalda?
On Yalda festival, Iranians celebrate the arrival of winter, the renewal of the sun and the victory of light over darkness. Considered the longest night of the year, Yalda eve is the night when ancient Iranians celebrated the birth of Mithra, the goddess of light.
What is Yalda religion?
As well as being a Zoroastrian religious holiday, Yalda is celebrated as a cultural festival by the general population in Iran, most of whom are Muslim. Yalda is an occasion for family reunions, storytelling, and festive meals including nuts, dried fruit and melons.
How was Yalda created?
They discovered that after what was the longest night of the year the daylight hours started to get longer. This night was called Yalda which meant rebirth (of the sun), and it was celebrated for the triumph of light over darkness.
Who celebrates Shab-e Yalda?
Iranian
Get it sent to your inbox. On Shab-e Yalda, the Iranian celebration of the winter solstice, elders take turns reading from a book of poetry by the celebrated 14th-century Persian poet Hafez, and interpret the rhyming couplets as a form of fortunetelling.
What do you eat for Yalda?
Traditionally, on Yalda night, Persians arrange a spread with festive fruits such as pomegranate, watermelon, persimmon, medlar, dried fruits, and nuts. Additionally, sweets such as Persian Baklava or Baslogh are very common items on Yalda night must-eat spread.
What should I buy for Yalda?
The main Yalda fruits are watermelon, pomegranate, persimmons, apples and pears, though other fruits such as oranges, tangerines and kiwi are also available in Iran at this time of the year.
What is the history of Yalda night?
Iranians have celebrated Yalda night in Iran since ancient times. Dating back to about 8000 years ago, this festivity, making the longest night of the year, is one of the ancient Iranian traditions. This night is called Shab-e Yalda (Yalda night) and is the time between the last day of fall and the first day of winter.
What is Happy Yalda?
Yalda is celebrated on the Northern Hemisphere’s longest night of the year, that is, on the eve of the Winter Solstice which falls on December 20th or 21st. Known as the longest and darkest night of the year, Yalda is celebrated in the memory of the victory of light over darkness.
Who celebrates Shab e Yalda?
What is Shab-e Chelle Yalda?
Also known as: Shab-e Yalda, Shab-e Chelle Yalda Night (Shab-e Yalda) is one of the most celebrated traditional events in Iran which marks the longest night of the year, that is, in the night of the Northern Hemisphere’s winter solstice.
What is Shab-e Yalda (night of birth)?
Shab-e Yalda, “Night of Birth”, or Zayeshmehr, “Birth of Mithra”, or Shab-e Chelleh is the Iranian winter solstice celebration which has been popular since ancient times. When does Yalda celebrate? Yalda is celebrated on the Northern Hemisphere’s longest night of the year, that is, on the eve of the Winter Solstice.
When is Yalda night in Iran?
All Iranian around the world celebrate this night with their families and friends on the 21st of December. What is the meaning of Yalda night? Shab-e Yalda, “Night of Birth”, or Zayeshmehr, “Birth of Mithra”, or Shab-e Chelleh is the Iranian winter solstice celebration which has been popular since ancient times.
What to eat at Shab-e Yalda?
Some people believed that forty types of fruits or food should be served and eat at Yalda. It is believed that eating watermelons on the night of Chelleh will ensure health and well-being. One of the traditions at Shab-e Yalda is divination by the Dīvān of Hafez (fāl-e Hafez).
