Iran to celebrate Yalda; longest night of the year
Iranians will tonight celebrate Yalda Night to observe the longest night of the solar calendar and mark the birthday of Mithra, the goddess of light.
The ancient festival of Yalda is to celebrate the beginning of winter. Yalda eve, 21st of December, is considered the longest night of the year when ancient Iranians celebrated the birth of Mithra, the goddess of light.
Mithra is the Avestan language name of the Zoroastrian divinity of covenant and oath. Mithra is a judicial figure, an all-seeing protector of truth.
Families and friends gather together to celebrate the night until after midnight. They are served with dried fruits and nuts.
Pomegranates and watermelons, which are said to symbolize the red color of dawn in the sky, have special place in this night.
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 Norouz and Yalda Night.
Yalda Night has been officially added to Iran's List of National Treasures in a special ceremony last year.
Source: presstv.ir
Other links:
Yalda: the longest night of the year
Fathe's Day celebration dates
Iranian Youth Day
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