““YaldaYalda”” is a Syriac word means birth. This is a Syriac word means birth. This night is dedicated to the birth of Mithra, night is dedicated to the birth of Mithra, who is associated with the divinity of the who is associated with the divinity of the sun in ancient Indo-Iranian mythology. sun in ancient Indo-Iranian mythology.

This ceremony is This ceremony is traced to the traced to the primal concept of primal concept of Light and Good Light and Good against Darkness against Darkness and Evil in the and Evil in the ancient Iranian ancient Iranian religion.religion.

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In most ancient cultures, including Persia, the start of In most ancient cultures, including Persia, the start of the solar year has been marked to celebrate the victory the solar year has been marked to celebrate the victory of light over darkness and the renewal of the Sun.of light over darkness and the renewal of the Sun.

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Since the days are getting longer and the Since the days are getting longer and the nights shorter, this day marks the victory of nights shorter, this day marks the victory of the sun over darkness.the sun over darkness.

The Persians The Persians adopted their adopted their annual renewal annual renewal festival from the festival from the Babylonians and Babylonians and incorporated it incorporated it into the rituals of into the rituals of their own their own Zoroastrian Zoroastrian religion and after religion and after Alexander attach Alexander attach to Iran it’s to Iran it’s worship spread worship spread throughout the throughout the Hellenic world.Hellenic world.

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The last day of The last day of the Persian the Persian month of "month of "AzarAzar" is " is the longest night the longest night of the year, when of the year, when the forces of Evil the forces of Evil are assumed to are assumed to be at their peak. be at their peak. While the next While the next day, the first day day, the first day of the month of of the month of ""DayDay" known as " known as the day of the the day of the sun belongs to sun belongs to Ahura MazdaAhura Mazda, the , the Lord of Wisdom.Lord of Wisdom.

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Fires would be Fires would be burnt all night burnt all night to ensure the to ensure the defeat of the defeat of the forces of forces of AhrimanAhriman. . There would There would be prayers to be prayers to MithraMithra and and feasts in his feasts in his honor, since honor, since MithraMithra is the is the god god responsible for responsible for protecting "the protecting "the light of the light of the early early morning".morning".

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One of the themes of the festival was the One of the themes of the festival was the temporary subversion of order. The king temporary subversion of order. The king dressed in white would change place with dressed in white would change place with ordinary people. ordinary people.

Grudges and Grudges and quarrels would be quarrels would be forgotten and forgotten and wars interrupted wars interrupted or postponed. or postponed. Businesses, Businesses, courts and courts and schools were schools were closed. Rich and closed. Rich and poor became poor became equal, masters equal, masters served slaves, served slaves, and children and children headed the headed the family. family.

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In the evening of  Yalda bonfires are lit outside, In the evening of  Yalda bonfires are lit outside, while inside the home, family and friends while inside the home, family and friends gather in a night-long vigil around the gather in a night-long vigil around the korsikorsi, a , a low, square table covered with a thick cloth low, square table covered with a thick cloth overhanging on all sides. A brazier with hot overhanging on all sides. A brazier with hot coals is placed under the table.coals is placed under the table.

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In the past, fruit In the past, fruit and vegetables and vegetables were only were only available in available in season and the season and the host, usually the host, usually the oldest in the oldest in the family, would family, would have carefully have carefully saved saved grapesgrapes, ,

melonsmelons, ,

watermelonswatermelons, ,

orangesoranges, ,

tangerinestangerines, ,

ApplesApples & &

pomegranatepomegranatess..

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Iranian believe that watermelon could Iranian believe that watermelon could keep people healthy in the wintertime.keep people healthy in the wintertime.

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PomegranatPomegranates are es are reminders of reminders of the cycle of the cycle of life -the life -the rebirth and rebirth and revival of revival of generations.generations.

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The purple outer covering of a The purple outer covering of a pomegranate symbolizes "birth" or pomegranate symbolizes "birth" or "dawn" and their bright red seeds "dawn" and their bright red seeds the "glow of life".the "glow of life".

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On this night, the oldest member of the On this night, the oldest member of the family says prayers, thanking God for family says prayers, thanking God for previous year's blessings, and prays for previous year's blessings, and prays for prosperity in the coming year. Then he cuts prosperity in the coming year. Then he cuts the watermelon, gives everyone a share. the watermelon, gives everyone a share. The cutting symbolizes the removal of The cutting symbolizes the removal of sickness and pain from the family.sickness and pain from the family.

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On into the night of festivities the family On into the night of festivities the family keeps the fires burning and the lights keeps the fires burning and the lights glowing to help the sun in its battle against glowing to help the sun in its battle against darkness. They play music, tell jokes and darkness. They play music, tell jokes and stories, until the sun triumphantly reappear stories, until the sun triumphantly reappear in the morning.in the morning.

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One of the One of the traditions of traditions of YaldaYalda is reciting is reciting the poetry by the poetry by HafezHafez, the 14th , the 14th century Iranian century Iranian poet. Most of the poet. Most of the elements of elements of YaldaYalda festivities festivities have roots from have roots from thousands of thousands of years ago; years ago; however, the however, the recitation of recitation of Hafez poems Hafez poems has been added has been added in recent in recent centuries. centuries.

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Family members Family members make a wish and make a wish and randomly opens randomly opens the Divan the Divan of of HafezHafez to one of to one of its pages and its pages and usually the eldest usually the eldest member of the member of the family recites the family recites the poem on that poem on that page. What is page. What is expressed in that expressed in that poem is believed poem is believed to be the to be the interpretation of interpretation of the wisher's wish the wisher's wish and whether and and whether and how it will come how it will come true. true.

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