Shab-e Yalda: Light Shines and Goodness Prevails

Everywhere in the world, people observe various seasonal days of celebration during the month of December. Most are religious holy days and are linked in some way to the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere.

Yalda, an ancient Iranian tradition, is celebrated on the eve of the winter solstice and goes several thousand years back in the country’s history. The tradition originated from the Mithraism religion. “Yalda” is a Syriac word meaning birth, and it was believed that Mithra, the Persian angel of light, was born during that night, which was then called Yalda.

As the longest night of the year, the Eve of Yalda (Shab-e Yalda) on December 21 is also a turning point, after which the days grow longer. It symbolizes the triumph of Light and Goodness over the powers of Darkness. During that night, Iranian Americans, along with Iranians around the globe, hold gatherings and stay up late, eating pomegranate, watermelon and a variety of nuts. They also read poetry, especially Hafez, the highly respected and adored 14th-century Persian mystic poet whose poetry books can be found in almost all Iranian households and who has been gaining a foothold in American classrooms and popularity among Americans.

“The company of rulers is the darkness of Yalda Eve
Look at the sun in quest of light, you may find it.” (Hafez)