Yalda Night: longest night, warmest ties

Iranian Ambassador highlights tradition of celebrating life and feasting with friends

ISLAMABAD:

Yalda, an ancient Persian tradition, is the last night of the autumn and the longest of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. This year, it falls on December 31. Iranians and other people in historically Persian-influenced regions, including Azerbaijan Republic, Afghanistan and Tajikistan and etc. traditionally turn the "longest and darkest night" of the year into a jubilant occasion.

The Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Pakistan, Reza Amiri Moghadam, described the rich tradition and celebrations of Yalda Night as he sat down to speak with The Express Tribune.

"When loved ones gather on this evening, they get together with friends and family and recite poetry, especially singing the writings of the iconic Persian poet Hafez, and the Shahnameh by Ferdowsi, another Persian poet, until well after midnight," he said.

On this evening, they usually have fruits, especially pomegranates, watermelons and nuts. "Most of the visitors on this special night also wear red, so pomegranates and watermelons are not the only red-colored things," said the Ambassador, highlighting the importance of the colour red on Yalda Night. "Red is often associated with the dawn's crimson tones and the brightness of life," he explained.

The attribution to dawn and the colour red further symbolises the victory of light over darkness, which is what the Yalda or Shabe Chelleh event is held in honour of. On this night, many candles and light decorations are typically used in homes and gardens to emphasise the significance of light.

The Ambassador further elaborated on the history of Yalda, saying that since ancient times, Iranians and certain other peoples in the Middle East and Central Asia have celebrated Shabe Yalda. People host elaborate gatherings at special tables and sit around late-night conversations while reading poetry and cracking jokes with their friends and families.

"The event is often accompanied by a variety of food like almonds, melons, pomegranates and dried fruit. All of these things and more are frequently put on a Korsi, which is where people sit," he added.

UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage

In 2022 'Yalda/Chella' was added as a new inscription on UNESCO's list of intangible cultural heritage on the suggestion of Iran and Afghanistan. Ambassador Moghadem noted that the UNESCO fact sheet characterises this ancient event as a mirror of cultural identity, hospitality, peaceful coexistence friendship and cultural diversity, highlighting its unique characteristics that have greatly and positively influenced the world's culture.