What is Shabe Yalda in Iran?

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 …

What do you eat on Shab e Yalda?

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 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!

Why is Yalda celebrated?

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.

How old is Yalda night?

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.

What do Yalda Persians do?

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 …

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 can I cook for Yalda?

The guests can enjoy a colorful dish made of rice, pomegranate arils, chicken, coriander, cinnamon, saffron, and chopped pistachio and almond nuts. Khagine Khorma, whose main ingredient is date palm, is the traditional and popular Yalda dinner in the city of Zanjan.

How do you wish Shab e 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! Shabe Yalda mobarak!!

What do Iranians do on Yalda night?

Is Yalda night still celebrated?

Thus, Shabeh Chelleh and Yalda Night are the same, the celebration of the winter solstice by ancient Iranians, which is still celebrated by Iranians and also other countries who used to share this ancient civilization and festivities with Iranians such as Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, Iraqi Kurdistan, Tajikistan, and Turkey …

Where did the name Shab e Chelleh come from?

Shab-e Chelleh is the night opening the “big Chelleh” period, that is the night between the last day of autumn and the first day of winter. The other name of the festival, ‘Yaldā’, is ultimately a borrowing from Syriac-speaking Christians.

Where can I find Shab-e Yalda poem?

The poems of Divan-e Hafez, which can be found in the bookcases of most Iranian families, are read or recited on various occasions such as this festival and Nowruz. Shab-e Yalda was officially added to Iran’s List of National Treasures in a special ceremony in 2008.

What was the significance of Shab-e zayehmehr?

Shab-e Zayehmehr is a time of joy. 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.

Is the Chella related to the winter solstice?

Sufism ‘s Chella, which is a 40-day period of retreat and fasting, is also unrelated to winter solstice festival. Food plays a central role in the present-day form of the celebrations. In most parts of Iran the extended family come together and enjoy a fine dinner.