The night of Yalda is the longest night of the year, also called the winter solstice, and is celebrated by all Iranians as the victory of light over darkness or good over evil. Each year on December 21, Iranians celebrate the arrival of winter; because the ancient Iranians believed that the dawn of each year was marked by the re-emergence or rebirth of the sun. But what are the Iranians doing in this celebration? Well, all Iranians gather in the family home.

Mainly the elderly, such as grandparents; and they read heroic Persian poems to Shah Nameh and are guided by the poems of Hafez. Certain special fruits and nuts are used during Yalda night. They include mixed nuts and red fruits such as watermelon and pomegranates. This red color symbolized the red of dawn. You can find out more about Yalda night in our article on YALDA NIGHT.