Yalda
Encyclopedia
Yalda , Yalda Night / Shab-e Yaldâ , or Shab-e Chelleh is the Persian Winter Solstice Celebration which has been popular since ancient times. Yalda is celebrated on the Northern Hemisphere
's longest night of the year, that is, on the eve of the Winter Solstice
. Depending on the shift of the calendar, Yalda is celebrated on or around December 20 or 21 each year.
Yalda has a history as long as the Mithraism
religion. The Mithraists believed that this night is the night of the birth of Mithra
, Persian angel of light and truth. At the morning of the longest night of the year the Mithra
was born.
Following the fall of the Sassanid Empire
and the subsequent rise of Islam
in Persia/Iran
, the religious significance of the event was lost, and like other Zoroastrian festivals
, Yalda became a social occasion when family and close friends would get together. Nonetheless, the obligatory serving of fresh fruit during mid-winter is reminiscent of the ancient customs of invoking the divinities to request protection of the winter crop.
The 13th century Persian poet Sa'di
wrote in his Bustan: "The true morning will not come, until the Yalda Night is gone".
Following the Persian calendar reform of 1925, which pegged some seasonal events to specific days of the calendar, Yalda came to be celebrated on the night before and including the first day of the tenth month (Dey
). Subject to seasonal drift, this day may sometimes fall a day before or a day after the actual Winter Solstice.
Yalda Night has been officially added to Iran's List of National Treasures in a special ceremony in 2008.
In modern days, although Yalda is not official holiday in Iran, families continue to hold traditional gatherings. Iranian radio and television offer special programmes on Yalda.
Foods common to Yalda celebration include watermelon, pomegranate, nuts, and dried fruit. These items and more are commonly placed on the korsi
, a traditional piece of furniture similar to a very short table, covered by a wool or wool-filled blanket. People sit around the Korsi and put their legs under the blanket. Inside the korsi, heat is generated by means of coal, electricity or gas heaters. Activities common to celebration of Yalda include staying up past midnight, conversation, eating, reading poems out loud, telling stories and jokes, smoking "Ghelyoon" (water pipe), and for some dancing. Prior to invention and prevalence of electricity, decorating and lighting the house and yard with candles was also part of the tradition, but few have continued this tradition. Another faded tradition is giving the present of dried fruits and nuts to family and friends in small parchments tied with ribbon (similar to "favors" currently made for wedding and baby related parties in the United States). Prior to ban of alcohol, drinking wine was also part of the celebration. Despite the Islamic alcohol ban in Iran, many continue to include home-made and contraband alcoholic drinks in their celebrations. New traditions include on-line sharing of pictures from Yalda gatherings.
Many Iranian-Americans also celebrate Shab-e-Yalda in America. Some go to the extent of dressing up in "mahali" (traditional regional) cloths, and making make-shift Korsi to place the food on and gather around. Others do far less, only wishing each other a happy Yalda in phone calls or on social networks. Some facilities run for Iranian-American children teach about Shab-e-Yalda and some even have Yalda parties. Iranian-American television stations and American radio stations broadcasting in Persian
also commemorate Shab-e-Yalda with special greetings and specials programing.
Yalda is a Syriac word meaning birth . Mithra-worshipers used the term 'yalda' specifically with reference to the birth of Mithra. As the longest night of the year, the Eve of Yalda (Shab-e Yalda) is also a turning point, after which the days grow longer. In ancient times it symbolized the triumph of the Sun God over the powers of darkness .
The Cult of the Mithra was first introduced to Iran thousands of years ago by migrant Aryans . Mithra, the Sun God remained a potent symbol of worship throughout the following centuries. Centuries later, during the Achaemenid era, Mithra became a principal deity, equal in rank to Ahura Mazda (the god of all goodness) and Anahita (goddess of water and fertility) .
In Sasanian times, Zoroastrianism became Persia's official religion , but Mithra's importance remained undiminished. This is evident from the bas-reliefs as Naqsh-e Rustam and Tagh-e Bustan. At Naqsh-e Rustam, Anahita bestows the royal diadem upon Nasri, the Sasanian King. At the investiture of Ardeshir I, Ahura Mazda bestows this diadem to the new King. At Tagh-e Bustan too, Ahura Mazda is again conferring the royal diadem upon Ardeshir II. Mithra is always present as a witness to these ceremonies .
Over the centuries Mithraism spread to Greece and Ancient Rome via Asia Minor, gaining popularity within the ranks of the Roman army. In the 4th century AD as a result of errors made in calculating leap years and dates, the birthday of Mithra was transferred to 25 December .
It was said that Mithra was born out of the light that came from within the Alborz mountains . Ancient Iranians would gather in caves along the mountain range throughout the night to witness this miracle together at dawn. They were known as 'Yar-e Ghar' (Cave Mates). In Iran today, despite of the advent of Islam and Muslim rituals, Shab-e Yalda is still celebrated widely.
It is a time when friends and family gather together to eat, drink and read poetry (especially Hafez
) until well after midnight. Fruits and nuts are eaten and pomegranates and watermelons are particularly significant. The red color in these fruits symbolizes the crimson hues of dawn and glow of life, invoking the splendor of Mithra.
Because Shab-e Yalda is the longest and darkest night, it has come to symbolize 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.
' The sight of you each morning is a New Year
Any night of your departure is the eve of Yalda' (Sa'di
)
'With all my pains, there is still the hope of recovery
Like the eve of Yalda, there will finally be an end' (Sa'di
)
During the long night, Iranians also practice bibliomancy
with the poetry of the highly respected mystic Iranian poet, Hafez
. The poems of Divan-e-Hafez, which can be found in the bookcases of almost all Iranian families, are intermingled with peoples' life and are read or recited during various occasions like Nowruz
and Yalda Night.
Northern Hemisphere
The Northern Hemisphere is the half of a planet that is north of its equator—the word hemisphere literally means “half sphere”. It is also that half of the celestial sphere north of the celestial equator...
's longest night of the year, that is, on the eve of the Winter Solstice
Winter solstice
Winter solstice may refer to:* Winter solstice, astronomical event* Winter Solstice , former band* Winter Solstice: North , seasonal songs* Winter Solstice , 2005 American film...
. Depending on the shift of the calendar, Yalda is celebrated on or around December 20 or 21 each year.
Yalda has a history as long as the Mithraism
Mithraism
The Mithraic Mysteries were a mystery religion practised in the Roman Empire from about the 1st to 4th centuries AD. The name of the Persian god Mithra, adapted into Greek as Mithras, was linked to a new and distinctive imagery...
religion. The Mithraists believed that this night is the night of the birth of Mithra
Mithra
Mithra is the Zoroastrian divinity of covenant and oath. In addition to being the divinity of contracts, Mithra is also a judicial figure, an all-seeing protector of Truth, and the guardian of cattle, the harvest and of The Waters....
, Persian angel of light and truth. At the morning of the longest night of the year the Mithra
Mithra
Mithra is the Zoroastrian divinity of covenant and oath. In addition to being the divinity of contracts, Mithra is also a judicial figure, an all-seeing protector of Truth, and the guardian of cattle, the harvest and of The Waters....
was born.
Following the fall of the Sassanid Empire
Sassanid Empire
The Sassanid Empire , known to its inhabitants as Ērānshahr and Ērān in Middle Persian and resulting in the New Persian terms Iranshahr and Iran , was the last pre-Islamic Persian Empire, ruled by the Sasanian Dynasty from 224 to 651...
and the subsequent rise of Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
in Persia/Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
, the religious significance of the event was lost, and like other Zoroastrian festivals
Zoroastrian festivals
Zoroastrianism has numerous festivals and holy days, all of which are bound to the Zoroastrian calendar. The Shahenshahi and Kadmi variants of the calendar do not intercalcate leap years and hence the day of the Gregorian calendar year on which these days are celebrated shifts ahead with time...
, Yalda became a social occasion when family and close friends would get together. Nonetheless, the obligatory serving of fresh fruit during mid-winter is reminiscent of the ancient customs of invoking the divinities to request protection of the winter crop.
The 13th century Persian poet Sa'di
Saadi (poet)
Abū-Muḥammad Muṣliḥ al-Dīn bin Abdallāh Shīrāzī better known by his pen-name as Saʿdī or, simply, Saadi, was one of the major Persian poets of the medieval period. He is not only famous in Persian-speaking countries, but he has also been quoted in western sources...
wrote in his Bustan: "The true morning will not come, until the Yalda Night is gone".
Following the Persian calendar reform of 1925, which pegged some seasonal events to specific days of the calendar, Yalda came to be celebrated on the night before and including the first day of the tenth month (Dey
Daena
Daena is a Zoroastrian concept representing insight and revelation, hence "conscience" or "religion." Alternately, Daena is considered to be a divinity, counted among the yazatas.-Nomenclature:...
). Subject to seasonal drift, this day may sometimes fall a day before or a day after the actual Winter Solstice.
Yalda Night has been officially added to Iran's List of National Treasures in a special ceremony in 2008.
Yalda Tradition
In Zoroastrian and ancient Iranian traditions, the winter solstice with the longest night of the year was an auspicious day, and included customs intended to protect people from misfortune. On that day, people were advised to stay awake most of the night. To commemorate, people have small parties and gatherings and eat the last remaining fresh fruits from summer.In modern days, although Yalda is not official holiday in Iran, families continue to hold traditional gatherings. Iranian radio and television offer special programmes on Yalda.
Foods common to Yalda celebration include watermelon, pomegranate, nuts, and dried fruit. These items and more are commonly placed on the korsi
Korsi
A Korsi is a type of low table found in Iran, with a heater underneath it, and blankets thrown over it. It is a traditional furniture of Iranian culture....
, a traditional piece of furniture similar to a very short table, covered by a wool or wool-filled blanket. People sit around the Korsi and put their legs under the blanket. Inside the korsi, heat is generated by means of coal, electricity or gas heaters. Activities common to celebration of Yalda include staying up past midnight, conversation, eating, reading poems out loud, telling stories and jokes, smoking "Ghelyoon" (water pipe), and for some dancing. Prior to invention and prevalence of electricity, decorating and lighting the house and yard with candles was also part of the tradition, but few have continued this tradition. Another faded tradition is giving the present of dried fruits and nuts to family and friends in small parchments tied with ribbon (similar to "favors" currently made for wedding and baby related parties in the United States). Prior to ban of alcohol, drinking wine was also part of the celebration. Despite the Islamic alcohol ban in Iran, many continue to include home-made and contraband alcoholic drinks in their celebrations. New traditions include on-line sharing of pictures from Yalda gatherings.
Many Iranian-Americans also celebrate Shab-e-Yalda in America. Some go to the extent of dressing up in "mahali" (traditional regional) cloths, and making make-shift Korsi to place the food on and gather around. Others do far less, only wishing each other a happy Yalda in phone calls or on social networks. Some facilities run for Iranian-American children teach about Shab-e-Yalda and some even have Yalda parties. Iranian-American television stations and American radio stations broadcasting in Persian
Persian language
Persian is an Iranian language within the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European languages. It is primarily spoken in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and countries which historically came under Persian influence...
also commemorate Shab-e-Yalda with special greetings and specials programing.
More About Yalda
The Eve of the Yalda has great significance in the Persian/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.Yalda is a Syriac word meaning birth . Mithra-worshipers used the term 'yalda' specifically with reference to the birth of Mithra. As the longest night of the year, the Eve of Yalda (Shab-e Yalda) is also a turning point, after which the days grow longer. In ancient times it symbolized the triumph of the Sun God over the powers of darkness .
The Cult of the Mithra was first introduced to Iran thousands of years ago by migrant Aryans . Mithra, the Sun God remained a potent symbol of worship throughout the following centuries. Centuries later, during the Achaemenid era, Mithra became a principal deity, equal in rank to Ahura Mazda (the god of all goodness) and Anahita (goddess of water and fertility) .
In Sasanian times, Zoroastrianism became Persia's official religion , but Mithra's importance remained undiminished. This is evident from the bas-reliefs as Naqsh-e Rustam and Tagh-e Bustan. At Naqsh-e Rustam, Anahita bestows the royal diadem upon Nasri, the Sasanian King. At the investiture of Ardeshir I, Ahura Mazda bestows this diadem to the new King. At Tagh-e Bustan too, Ahura Mazda is again conferring the royal diadem upon Ardeshir II. Mithra is always present as a witness to these ceremonies .
Over the centuries Mithraism spread to Greece and Ancient Rome via Asia Minor, gaining popularity within the ranks of the Roman army. In the 4th century AD as a result of errors made in calculating leap years and dates, the birthday of Mithra was transferred to 25 December .
It was said that Mithra was born out of the light that came from within the Alborz mountains . Ancient Iranians would gather in caves along the mountain range throughout the night to witness this miracle together at dawn. They were known as 'Yar-e Ghar' (Cave Mates). In Iran today, despite of the advent of Islam and Muslim rituals, Shab-e Yalda is still celebrated widely.
It is a time when friends and family gather together to eat, drink and read poetry (especially Hafez
Hafez
Khwāja Shamsu d-Dīn Muhammad Hāfez-e Shīrāzī , known by his pen name Hāfez , was a Persian lyric poet. His collected works composed of series of Persian poetry are to be found in the homes of most Iranians, who learn his poems by heart and use them as proverbs and sayings to this day...
) until well after midnight. Fruits and nuts are eaten and pomegranates and watermelons are particularly significant. The red color in these fruits symbolizes the crimson hues of dawn and glow of life, invoking the splendor of Mithra.
Because Shab-e Yalda is the longest and darkest night, it has come to symbolize 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.
' The sight of you each morning is a New Year
Any night of your departure is the eve of Yalda' (Sa'di
Saadi (poet)
Abū-Muḥammad Muṣliḥ al-Dīn bin Abdallāh Shīrāzī better known by his pen-name as Saʿdī or, simply, Saadi, was one of the major Persian poets of the medieval period. He is not only famous in Persian-speaking countries, but he has also been quoted in western sources...
)
'With all my pains, there is still the hope of recovery
Like the eve of Yalda, there will finally be an end' (Sa'di
Saadi (poet)
Abū-Muḥammad Muṣliḥ al-Dīn bin Abdallāh Shīrāzī better known by his pen-name as Saʿdī or, simply, Saadi, was one of the major Persian poets of the medieval period. He is not only famous in Persian-speaking countries, but he has also been quoted in western sources...
)
During the long night, Iranians also practice bibliomancy
Bibliomancy
Bibliomancy is the use of books in divination. The method of employing sacred books for 'magical medicine', for removing negative entities, or for divination is widespread in many religions of the world:-Terminology:...
with the poetry of the highly respected mystic Iranian poet, Hafez
Hafez
Khwāja Shamsu d-Dīn Muhammad Hāfez-e Shīrāzī , known by his pen name Hāfez , was a Persian lyric poet. His collected works composed of series of Persian poetry are to be found in the homes of most Iranians, who learn his poems by heart and use them as proverbs and sayings to this day...
. The poems of Divan-e-Hafez, which can be found in the bookcases of almost all Iranian families, are intermingled with peoples' life and are read or recited during various occasions like Nowruz
Nowruz
Nowrūz is the name of the Iranian New Year in Iranian calendars and the corresponding traditional celebrations. Nowruz is also widely referred to as the Persian New Year....
and Yalda Night.