Yalda Night or Chelle Night is an ancient festival in Iran, Iraqi
Kurdistan, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan and Turkey celebrated on the winter
solstice. The Iranians are celebrated the
Yalda Night
(the first day of winter), the time between the sunset of the last day of
the autumn and the sunrise of the first day of winter which is coincided
to the longest and the darkest night of the year in the northern
hemisphere of the earth. What is the story of Yalda? Originating in the
pre-Zoroastrian tradition of worship of Mithra, the God of Sun, but
popularized by Zoroastrians, Yalda, also referred to as Chelleh,
celebrates the sunrise after the longest night of the year. Ancient
Persians believed that evil forces were strongest on the longest and
darkest night of the year. The longest and darkest night of the year is a
time when friends and family gather together to eat, drink and read poetry
(especially Hafez) and the Shahnameh until well after midnight. Fruits and
nuts are eaten and pomegranates and watermelons are particularly
significant.