What's Yalda?
Yalda or Shabe Chelleh is the Zoroastrian celebration of winter solstice-the longest night of the year. All Iranians celebrate Yalda on the last day of month of Azar in the Iranian calendar (December 21 or 22). The ancient Zoroastrians believed that the longest night of the year was unlucky night where Ahriman, the Evil Spirit, was the most powerful.
So, people cuddled with friends and family at night. They told stories, read poetry and ate delicious food and celebrated the eventual victory of light over darkness and the birthday of Mithra, the pre-Zoroastrian Sun god. The next day, the first day of winter, was called Khorram Ruz or the joyful day. People believed that Ahriman had been defeated because days were getting longer as the spring approached.
For Yalda people usually set up a korsi, a low table with a heater underneath covered with blankets where everyone can sit around and keep warm. People sit around Korsi and listen to stories, read Hafez’s poetry, eat dried fruits and nuts and stay awake all night.
Eating watermelon and pomegranates is central to this celebration as it is thought it would bring good fortune. In Khorasan, a province in the east of Iran, people eat green olives and garlic at Yalda to protect themselves against scorpion bites and disease! In some places in Iran people exchange gifts as well.
Here is an cute video about Yalda produced by Pardis:
So, people cuddled with friends and family at night. They told stories, read poetry and ate delicious food and celebrated the eventual victory of light over darkness and the birthday of Mithra, the pre-Zoroastrian Sun god. The next day, the first day of winter, was called Khorram Ruz or the joyful day. People believed that Ahriman had been defeated because days were getting longer as the spring approached.
For Yalda people usually set up a korsi, a low table with a heater underneath covered with blankets where everyone can sit around and keep warm. People sit around Korsi and listen to stories, read Hafez’s poetry, eat dried fruits and nuts and stay awake all night.
Eating watermelon and pomegranates is central to this celebration as it is thought it would bring good fortune. In Khorasan, a province in the east of Iran, people eat green olives and garlic at Yalda to protect themselves against scorpion bites and disease! In some places in Iran people exchange gifts as well.
Here is an cute video about Yalda produced by Pardis:
Winter Solstice Celebrations around the World
Iranians are not the only people in the world who celebrate winter solstice.
In Austria people dress up as Krampus, a half-demon, half goat creature who goes around terrorizing and harassing the crowd!
In Austria people dress up as Krampus, a half-demon, half goat creature who goes around terrorizing and harassing the crowd!
In England every year thousands of people visit the ancient Stonehenge in Wiltshire during the winter solstice to sing , dance and do yoga and wait for the sun to rise.
In Scandinavia, people celebrate the winter solstice by lighting fire to ward off the evil spirits. The girls wear white dresses with red sashes with wreaths of candles on their heads in honor of St. Lucia, a Christian martyr.
Dong Zhi is the Chinese midwinter celebrations where family members gather together for a special meal of tang yuan (rice balls).
Dong Zhi is the Chinese midwinter celebrations where family members gather together for a special meal of tang yuan (rice balls).
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In Peru winter solstice is celebrated in June not December and it is called Inti Raymi.
The ancient Incas like the ancient Persians celebrated the Sun god on this day but unlike the ancient Persians the Incas sacrificed animals or even children on this day! Today Inti Raymi is still celebrated but without any sacrifices! (see the picture on the left) Just like Peru, in Antarctica resident scientists celebrate solstice in June by watching movies, exchanging gifts and eating special meal (see below left). The Hopi Indians of Northern Arizona (below) celebrate Soyal or winter solstice by dancing, exchanging gifts and making prayers sticks for blessing each other. 
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