As winter's longest night falls, Persian families gather to keep watch until dawn — not in dread of the darkness, but in celebration of the light that follows. This is Shab-e Yalda, observed each year on the winter solstice, when the sun begins its slow return and the days start growing longer again.
Recognized by UNESCO in 2022 as part of humanity's Intangible Cultural Heritage, Yalda traces back to ancient Persian and Zoroastrian tradition. Its name means "birth," and its themes echo other solstice festivals around the world, from Christmas to Yule. Today the night is still honored across Iran, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, and parts of Turkey, where it remains less a ritual than a reunion — a chance for family and friends to sit together against the dark.
Traditions and Symbolism
Food carries much of the night's meaning:
Pomegranate ; its ruby seeds evoke fertility, life, and the coming sunrise.
Watermelon ; eaten for good health through the winter ahead.
Nuts and sweets ; offered as tokens of fortune and joy.
Elders host the gathering, and their table becomes the night's centerpiece: a spread of dried fruits and sweets — in some regions, as many as forty varieties — alongside a lit lamp and a bowl of water, standing for light and purity.
Poetry and Storytelling
As the night deepens, so does the ritual. Families take turns reading Hafez aloud, sometimes using his Divan for fal-e Hafez — a form of poetic divination in which a randomly chosen verse is read as guidance for the year ahead. Tales from the Shahnameh, Persia's great epic, are told alongside it, weaving myth and memory into the evening.
Why Celebrate Yalda?
Yalda endures because it holds what Persian culture prizes most: warmth, family, and the quiet certainty that light returns. It's less a single night than a yearly reminder — that even the darkest hours pass.
We invite you to experience this tradition firsthand. Join us to discover the gatherings, the poetry, and the landscapes that make Iran's heritage so enduring.
