Persian Culture in a Nutshell: Celebrating "Yalda Night"

Tonight, many Persians will celebrate "Yalda Night" – the longest night of the year.
As part of this ancient Persian tradition, dating back thousands of years, many families will gather at home and set a festive table featuring watermelon, pomegranates, and other foods.
The vibrant red color of the watermelon and pomegranates symbolizes the colors of life, making them the most prominent foods of this celebration.

Persians mark this event as the solar "zero point" – the rebirth of the sun ("Yalda" means "birth" in ancient Syriac, from which the meaning was derived). From tomorrow morning, daylight hours will gradually increase (today, December 21st, is the shortest day of the year).

Another cherished custom of the holiday is the recitation of poetry. The most popular poet during Yalda Night is Hafez, a 14th-century Persian poet whose works are so revered they are often memorized by heart in Persian households (a portrait of him is included).

Since 2008, Yalda Night has been officially recognized as a holiday in Iran by the Islamic regime, although its roots lie in sun worship.

Happy Yalda!