Celebrate Yalda Night in Iran: A Night of Poetry, Friendship, and Culinary Delights
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What is the significance of Yalda Night?
Yalda Night, also known as Shab-e Yalda, marks the winter solstice, the longest night of the year. It is celebrated in Iran and other regions influenced by Persian culture. The celebration symbolizes the victory of light over darkness and the renewal of the sun, as days start to lengthen after Yalda. It is rooted in ancient Zoroastrian tradition and is a time for gathering with loved ones to ward off evil spirits by staying awake through the night.
What are common traditions and activities during Yalda Night?
Yalda Night is typically celebrated with family and friends gathering to enjoy an evening filled with traditional foods, poetry reading, particularly of Hafez, and storytelling. The spread includes fruits like watermelon and pomegranate to symbolize the dawn of life, nuts, and special Yalda sweets. Homes are often decorated, and some people wear red clothing as a symbol of life and warmth.
How is the Hafez fortune telling (Faal-e Hafez) integral to Yalda celebrations?
Faal-e Hafez is a traditional activity where individuals use the poetry of Hafez, a beloved 14th-century Persian poet, to tell fortunes. On Yalda Night, someone will make a wish or think of a question and then open a book of Hafez’s poetry at random. The poem on the page is interpreted to give guidance or predict the future, often reflecting the themes of the querent’s inquiry.
Where in Iran can visitors best experience Yalda Night?
Yalda Night is widely celebrated across Iran, but experiencing it in a local’s home offers the most authentic glimpse into its traditions. However, many cultural centers, hotels, and restaurants in major cities like Tehran, Shiraz, and Isfahan host special events where visitors can participate in the celebrations.
What special foods are prepared for Yalda Night?
Yes, certain foods are traditional for Yalda. These include pomegranates and watermelons, symbolizing the cycle of life and the colors of dawn, as well as mixed nuts, dried fruits, and a variety of Persian sweets. A special meal is often prepared, sometimes including dishes like Ash-e Reshte, a hearty noodle soup.
What should non-Iranians be aware of when celebrating Yalda?
Visitors should be aware of the cultural importance of family and community during Yalda. Participating respectfully in poetry readings and enjoying the communal aspect of the food and stories shared are highly appreciated. It’s also a wonderful opportunity to learn more about Persian literary traditions and customs.
Frequently Asked Questions: Celebrating Yalda Night in Iran
Why we celebrate Yalda night:
It is the longest night of the year and it means from now on the days will be longer and the darkness will be shorter. In ancient Persia (now Iran) this night was regarded as the birth night of the Sun.
Hafez Fortun Faal:
In Iran, we have a great poet called Hafiz or Hafez (1325 – 1390 AD). On this night (or many other special occasions) we take his Divaan (the collection of his poems), close our eyes, and open one page randomly. It is believed that the poem that we see tells our fortune; we call this: “Faal Gereftan”.
You are very welcome to visit his beautiful Tomb in Shiraz and even see what is your Faal (fortune) according to Hafez’s poems.
Celebrate Yalda Night in Iran
But this night is not only about poetry. It is a celebration full of delicious fruits and nuts. An Iranian person would not spend Yalda night without eating those special foods.
Yalda has its special fruits; the two most important ones are pomegranate and especially watermelon.
Tonight (21 December) is the last night of autumn in Iran and also Yalda night. Our staff at incredibleiran.com, wish you a happy Yalda Night and hope to be your host here in Iran next Yalda.
No matter which tour you have chosen and in which city of Iran you are next December 21, we offer you to spend Yalda night with Iranian family or friends and share in their ancient customs.
Hope to be your host next December 21, in Yalda, a night full of poetry, chatting, and eating.
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