YALDA NIGHT
CELEBRATION OF THE LONGEST NIGHT
“Yalda” is a Syriac word means birth. This night
is dedicated to the birth of Mithra, who is
associated with the divinity of the sun in ancient
Indo-Iranian mythology.
This ceremony is
traced to the primal
concept of Light and
Good
against
Darkness and Evil
in
the
ancient
Iranian religion.
YALDA NIGHT
CELEBRATION OF THE LONGEST NIGHT
In most ancient cultures, including Persia, the start of
the solar year has been marked to celebrate the victory
of light over darkness and the renewal of the Sun.
YALDA NIGHT
CELEBRATION OF THE LONGEST NIGHT
Since the days are getting longer and the nights
shorter, this day marks the victory of the sun over
darkness.
YALDA NIGHT
CELEBRATION OF THE LONGEST NIGHT
The
Persians
adopted
their
annual
renewal
festival from the
Babylonians
and
incorporated it into
the rituals of their
own
Zoroastrian
religion and after
Alexander attach to
Iran it’s worship
spread throughout
the Hellenic world.
YALDA NIGHT
CELEBRATION OF THE LONGEST NIGHT
The last day of the
Persian month of
"Azar" is the longest
night of the year,
when the forces of
Evil are assumed to
be at their peak.
While the next day,
the first day of the
month of "Day"
known as the day of
the sun belongs to
Ahura Mazda, the
Lord of Wisdom.
YALDA NIGHT
CELEBRATION OF THE LONGEST NIGHT
Fires would be
burnt all night to
ensure the defeat
of the forces of
Ahriman.
There would be
prayers to Mithra
and feasts in his
honor,
since
Mithra is the god
responsible for
protecting "the
light of the early
morning".
YALDA NIGHT
CELEBRATION OF THE LONGEST NIGHT
One of the themes of the festival was the
temporary subversion of order. The king dressed
in white would change place with ordinary
people.
Grudges
and
quarrels would be
forgotten and wars
interrupted
or
postponed.
Businesses, courts
and schools were
closed. Rich and
poor became equal,
masters
served
slaves, and children
headed the family.
YALDA NIGHT
CELEBRATION OF THE LONGEST NIGHT
In the evening of Yalda bonfires are lit outside, while
inside the home, family and friends gather in a nightlong vigil around the korsi, a low, square table
covered with a thick cloth overhanging on all sides. A
brazier with hot coals is placed under the table.
YALDA NIGHT
CELEBRATION OF THE LONGEST NIGHT
YALDA NIGHT
CELEBRATION OF THE LONGEST NIGHT
In the past, fruit and
vegetables were only
available in season
and the host, usually
the oldest in the
family, would have
carefully
saved
grapes,
melons,
watermelons,
oranges,
tangerines,
Apples
& pomegranates.
YALDA NIGHT
CELEBRATION OF THE LONGEST NIGHT
Iranian believe that watermelon could keep
people healthy in the wintertime.
YALDA NIGHT
CELEBRATION OF THE LONGEST NIGHT
Pomegranates
are reminders
of the cycle of
life -the rebirth
and revival of
generations.
YALDA NIGHT
CELEBRATION OF THE LONGEST NIGHT
The purple outer covering of a
pomegranate symbolizes "birth" or
"dawn" and their bright red seeds the
"glow of life".
YALDA NIGHT
CELEBRATION OF THE LONGEST NIGHT
On this night, the oldest member of the family
says prayers, thanking God for previous year's
blessings, and prays for prosperity in the coming
year. Then he cuts the watermelon, gives
everyone a share. The cutting symbolizes the
removal of sickness and pain from the family.
YALDA NIGHT
CELEBRATION OF THE LONGEST NIGHT
On into the night of festivities the family keeps
the fires burning and the lights glowing to help
the sun in its battle against darkness. They play
music, tell jokes and stories, until the sun
triumphantly reappear in the morning.
YALDA NIGHT
CELEBRATION OF THE LONGEST NIGHT
One
of
the
traditions of Yalda
is
reciting
the
poetry by Hafez,
the 14th century
Iranian poet. Most
of the elements of
Yalda
festivities
have roots from
thousands of years
ago; however, the
recitation of Hafez
poems has been
added in recent
centuries.
YALDA NIGHT
CELEBRATION OF THE LONGEST NIGHT
Family
members
make a wish and
randomly opens the
Divan of Hafez to
one of its pages and
usually the eldest
member of the
family recites the
poem on that page.
What is expressed
in that poem is
believed to be the
interpretation of the
wisher's wish and
whether and how it
will come true.
YALDA NIGHT
CELEBRATION OF THE LONGEST NIGHT
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CELEBRATION OF THE LONGEST NIGHT
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CELEBRATION OF THE LONGEST NIGHT
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CELEBRATION OF THE LONGEST NIGHT
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CELEBRATION OF THE LONGEST NIGHT
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CELEBRATION OF THE LONGEST NIGHT