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 the history of Yalda night?

Yalda night is said to be first celebrated by the Babylonians near Persia. As a matter of fact, Yalda night celebration is one of the most ancient festivals in Iran. This ancient festival goes back to the ancient time when many Persians believed in Zoroastrian religion.

Is Yalda a religious holiday?

Yalda is a non-religious festival marking the winter solstice, the longest night of the year, the same celestial phenomenon favored by early pagans and Christians alike for winter holidays, including Christmas. ... Yalda means “long” in Persian.

Why do we eat pomegranate on Yalda night?

#1 Pomegranate

One will not celebrate Yalda night without eating Pomegranates. Pomegranate is native to southwestern Asia, around the Caspian Sea, North of Iran. Moreover, Pomegranate symbolizes the cycle of life. On Yalda, eating a bowl of shiny ruby pomegranate arils is inevitable.

What are the traditions of 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 ...

How Iranians Celebrate Longest Night of The Year

How do you say Happy Yalda in Persian?

So remember if you see Persian people around you on Dec 20-21, tell them “Shabe Yalda Mobarak!” or شب یلدا مبارک meaning Happy Yalda!

What's the meaning of Yalda?

Yaldā Night (Persian: شب یلدا‎ shab-e yalda) or Chelleh Night (Persian: شب چله‎ shab-e chelle) is an Iranian Northern Hemisphere's winter solstice festival celebrated on the "longest and darkest night of the year." According to the calendar, this corresponds to the night of December 20/21 (±1) in the Gregorian calendar ...

How do Persians celebrate winter solstice?

During Yalda, people traditionally make wishes and turn to poetry for answers. ... “Each member of the family makes a wish and randomly opens Hafez's book of poems and recites the poem, which is believed to be an interpretation to the wish,” Milanian said.

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 forbidden in Zoroastrianism?

Wearing eyeglasses, long cloak, trousers, hat, boots, socks, winding their turbans tightly and neatly, carrying watch or a ring, were all forbidden to Zoroastrians.

Which religion celebrate Yalda night?

According to a 22 December 1997 AFP dispatch, the Zoroastrian festival of Yalda is celebrated on the longest night of the year. 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.

How old is Yalda tradition?

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.

Why is Yalda red?

Ancient Zoroastrians in Iran used red to represent the color of dawn and light in general. For that reason, many of the edibles served on Yalda are red. Iranians everywhere serve a variety of fruits, including pomegranate—the crown jewel of fruits native to Iran—watermelon, and persimmon.

What is Nowruz festival?

Millions of people around the world have celebrated Nowruz - a festival that marks the Persian New Year and the official beginning of spring. Nowruz begins at the spring equinox, when the sun crosses the equator and day and night are equal length.

What kind of name is Yalda?

Yalda is a Muslim Girl Name. Yalda name meaning is Name Of The Longest Night Of The Year. It has multiple Islamic meaning. The name is originated from Persian.

What is Yalda in Western culture?

Yalda, a Syriac word imported into the Persian language by the Syriac Christians means birth (tavalud and melaad are from the same origin). ... In most ancient cultures, including Persia, the start of the solar year has been marked to celebrate the victory of light over darkness and the renewal of the Sun.

Where is Yalda Golsharifi from?

Although born and raised in Kuwait, a stint in LA, where she had a clothing boutique, left a lasting, and laid-back imprint on her style, which she describes as “fun and feminine with a touch of cool.”

Is Yalda the same as winter solstice?

Yalda. The Persian festival Yalda, or Shab-e Yalda is a celebration of the winter solstice in Iran that started in ancient times. It marks the last day of the Persian month of Azar. Yalda is viewed traditionally as the victory of light over dark, and the birthday of the sun god Mithra.

Who celebrates Yalda?

One of the most ancient Persian festivals is Shab-e Yalda or Yalda Nights. All Iranian around the world celebrate this night with their families and friends on the 21st of December.

Is Yalda a holiday in Iran?

You might be busy Christmas shopping this month, but Iranians are busy preparing for another holiday just a few days before- Shab-e Yalda, or Yalda Night, an ancient Zoroastrian tradition. Here's everything you need to know about Yalda Night, including how you can join the fun and celebrate it just like an Iranian.

Which is older Hinduism or Zoroastrianism?

Its founder, Zarathustra, wrote down hymns that predate written Sanskrit literature, which makes it possible to claim Zoroastrianism as being older than Hinduism, formally codified.

Which is oldest religion in world?

The word Hindu is an exonym, and while Hinduism has been called the oldest religion in the world, many practitioners refer to their religion as Sanātana Dharma (Sanskrit: सनातन धर्म, lit.

How do Zoroastrians pray?

Prayers. Zoroastrians traditionally pray several times a day. Some wear a kusti, which is a cord knotted three times, to remind them of the maxim, 'Good Words, Good Thoughts, Good Deeds'. ... Prayers are said facing the sun, fire or other source of light representing Ahura Mazda's divine light and energy.

Why do Zoroastrians wear masks?

In present-day Zoroastrian tradition, the offering is never made directly, but placed in the care of the celebrant priest who, wearing a cloth mask over the nostrils and mouth to prevent pollution from the breath, will then – using a pair of silver tongs – place the offering in the fire.