Shabe Yalda

Shabe Yalda:

I have decided to use my free time today and write down a bit about one of Iranian traditional Festival as it classes ( shabe –Yalda) which the celebration of longest night of the year as Winter solstice appear in the Northen Hemisphere.
This Festival has a very long history and possibly some of Iranian doesn’t know all details even.
I am writing this for Wijbren, his family and everybody else who is interested in knowing different traditions about Zoroastrians and Iranians, basically.

On turning point, is Winter Solstice (December 21) and end of the longest night of the year (Darkness), and beginning of growing of the days (Lights); a celebration of Good over Evil. Shabe Yaldā (Persian: یلدا) or Shabe Chelle (Persian: شب چله) is an Iranian festival originally celebrated on the Northern Hemisphere's longest night of the year, that is, on the eve of the Winter Solstice.

The Eve of the Birth of Mithra, the Sun God 'Shab-e Yalda', celebrated on 21 December, has great significance in the Iranian calendar. It is the eve of the birth of Mithra, the Sun God, who symbolized light, goodness and strength on earth. Shab-e Yalda is a time of joy.
It is a time when friends and family gather together to eat, drink and read poetry (especially Hafiz) until well after midnight. Fruits and nuts are eaten and pomegranates and watermelons are particularly significant. The red colour in these fruits symbolises the crimson hues of dawn and glow of life, invoking the splendour of Mithra.
Because Shab-e Yalda is the longest and darkest night, it has come to symbolise many things in Persian poetry; separation from a loved one, loneliness and waiting. After Shab-e Yalda a transformation takes place - the waiting is over, light shines and goodness prevails.
Unfortunately and me and Wijbren were busy with work and doing other things so this year we had no celebration.
But I am trying either his or mine traditional festival to be celebrated and keep it as it is which is symbol of ancestors and part of us.