What is the story behind Yalda?
Originating in the pre-Zoroastrian tradition of worship of Mithra, the God of Sun, but popularized by Zoroastrians, Yalda, also referred to as Chelleh, celebrates the sunrise after the longest night of the year. Ancient Persians believed that evil forces were strongest on the longest and darkest night of the year.
How is Yalda celebrated?
Every year, Iranian people celebrate Yalda night on the longest night of the year by gathering together for eating, drinking and reading poetry until after midnight.
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! There is also a video if you want to learn more, hope you enjoy your Shabe Yalda.
Which countries celebrate Yalda?
The festival is celebrated in Iran and other historically Persian-influenced regions, including Azerbaijan, Afghanistan and Tajikistan.
How do you wish Happy Yalda?
Yalda is a night full of hope for the future and happiness for the young and old. َThere is a saying in Farsi that goes something like this: I wish you a long and happy life like Shabe Yalda, sweet as watermelon and fruitful as pomegranates!
What do they eat on Yalda night?
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.
How do you wish someone a Yalda?
How old is Yalda celebration?
The festival was considered pone of the most important celebrations in ancient Iran and continues to be celebrated to this day, for a period of more than 5000 years. Yalda is a Syriac word meaning birth (NPer.
Does Iran have Santa Claus?
The boys and girls of Iran have never heard of Santa Claus, so they do not exchange gifts at Christmas. But they do receive new clothes, which they proudly wear all during the happy Christmas week. A dish eaten for Christmas day is a kind of chicken stew called ‘harasa’.
What should I bring to Yalda?
Bahareh and Banafsheh help their mother and father prepare the Yalda table every year, placing silver trays, copper bowls and other family heirlooms on a delicately embroidered red termeh (handwoven shawl) and filling them with pomegranates, persimmons, slices of candy-pink watermelon (to represent health and …
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.