Yaldā Night

Note: Yaldā Night, in Persian ‎ shab-e yalda) or Chelleh Night shab-e chelle) is an Iranian Northern Hemisphere's winter solstice festival celebrated on the "longest and darkest night of the year. According to the calendar, this corresponds to the night of December 20/21 in the Gregorian calendar, and to the night between the last day of the ninth month (Azar) and the first day of the tenth month (Dey) of the Iranian civil calendar.

Iranians and  Yalda Night 

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) until well after midnight. Fruits and nuts are eaten and pomegranates and watermelons are particularly significant. The red color in these fruits symbolizes the crimson hues of dawn and glow of life. The poems of Divan-e Hafez, which can be found in the bookcases of most Iranian families, are read or recited on various occasions such as this festival and Nowruz. Shab-e Yalda was officially added to Iran's List of National Treasures in a special ceremony in 2008.

Iranians prepare to celebrate longest night of year amid COVID-19 pandemic

TEHRAN, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- Iranian families complete their preparations to celebrate Yalda Night on Sunday evening, while authorities reiterate calls to hold family meetings online this year to prevent the re-spread of COVID-19.

Yalda Night, which is one of the oldest traditions in Iran, is to celebrate with family the longest night of the year.

Family members usually gather for the night around a tablecloth covered with fruits such as watermelon, pomegranates and persimmons, to which different kinds of nuts and sweets are added.

A distinctive feature of the night is the group reading of random poems by the great fourteenth century Persian author Hafez for fortune-telling purposes, what is called Fal-e Hafez.

Many others also read passages from Shahnameh (Book of Kings), the national epic of Iranians, a compilation of myths, legends and heroic feats accomplished in the eleventh century by the East-Iranian poet Ferdowsi.

This year, many are deeply concerned that the family gatherings traditionally held all across the country may propel a new wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.... 

To prevent people leaving homes for large gatherings, local authorities have declared hourly traffic restrictions on Saturday and Sunday.

Courtesy of Xinhua