What is the history 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.
When did Yalda night start?
502 BC
History. “Yalda Night” was one of the holy nights in ancient Iran, included in the official calendar of the ancient Iranians from 502 BC during the time of Darius I. The festivities that take place on this night are an ancient tradition.
How long has Yalda been celebrated?
5,000 years
This victory of light and goodness over the forces of darkness has been celebrated by Iranians for more than 5,000 years. According to Dr. Mehravari, the origins of Yalda date back to pre-Zoroastrian Mithraism, the worship of the god of the sun.
Why is Shab-e-Yalda celebrated?
Shabe Yalda brings together family and friends to pass the longest and darkest night of the year in good company and cheer, and celebrate the “rebirth of the sun” the following day, known as “Khurram ruz” (the day of the sun).
What’s the meaning of Yalda?
History and Meaning:
“Yalda” is a Syriac word meaning “birth,” and the festival celebrates the eve of the birth of Mithra, the sun god.
Do Muslims celebrate Shab-e Yalda?
Is the Yalda Night a Muslim holiday? As best as we can tell, Shab-e Cheleh has been celebrated for almost 8,000 years, possibly longer. As such, the Yalda Night isn’t really a Muslim calendar as Islam is only about 1,400 years old. Instead, the Yalda Night’s origins rest in the ancient religion of Zoroastrianism.
What are the traditions of Yalda?
Traditional Celebrations During Yalda Night
Yalda Night is celebrated with the enjoyment of delicious foods. Iranians eat nuts, watermelons, and pomegranates on this special night and share the last remaining fruits from summer together. Fruits of Shab-e-Yalda have symbolic significance as well.
What does Yalda mean in Farsi?
یلدا • (yaldâ) Yalda, an Iranian festival celebrated during the longest and darkest night of the year (i.e. winter solstice)quotations ▼
How Iranians celebrate longest night of the year?
Every year, Iranian people celebrate Yalda night on the longest night of the year by gathering together for eating, drinking and reading poetry until after midnight. Shab-e Yalda (Yalda’s night) or Shab-e Chelle is the Iranians’ way to confront the coldest season of the year.
What do you eat on Shab Yalda?
Traditionally, on Yalda night, Persians arrange a spread with festive fruits such as pomegranate, watermelon, persimmon, medlar, dried fruits, and nuts. Additionally, sweets such as Persian Baklava or Baslogh are very common items on Yalda night must-eat spread.
Is Yalda Persian name?
Yalda is a feminine given name originating in Persian named after Yaldā Night, the Iranian New Year festival.
What kind of name is Yalda?
Yalda is baby girl name mainly popular in Muslim religion and its main origin is Persian. Yalda name meanings is Name Of The Longest Night Of The Year.
What do you eat on Yalda night?
What Yalda means?
“birth
History and Meaning:
What is Yalda religion?
Yalda indicates the concept of Light and Good against Darkness and Evil in Zoroastrianism religion, the ancient Persian religion. In Persian poetry Yalda signifies many things such as the separation between loved ones, loneliness and waiting.
Is Christmas based on Yalda?
The red and green colors, candle lights, eating and drinking, spending time with friends and family, are among the similarities between these two ancient traditions. Some historians believe that Christmas actually derives from the ancient and pagan Persian tradition, Yalda night or ‘Shab e Yalda’ (شب یلدا).
Do Afghans celebrate Yalda?
Much like New Year’s Eve in many parts of the world, this is the night when Iranians stay up late with family and friends. Yalda is observed in Iran, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and anywhere Iranians live in the world.
Why do we eat watermelon on Yalda night?
The ancient myth is that eating hendevaneh هندوانه (watermelon) on Yalda night makes the person immune to cold winter weather as well as the next summer’s heat. In old times summer watermelons were buried under branches and leaves in a cold place to keep them fresh until the Yalda night.
Why do we eat pomegranate on Yalda night?
#1 Pomegranate
One will not celebrate Yalda night without eating Pomegranates. Pomegranate is native to southwestern Asia, around the Caspian Sea, North of Iran. Moreover, Pomegranate symbolizes the cycle of life. On Yalda, eating a bowl of shiny ruby pomegranate arils is inevitable.
What is the meaning of Yalda night?
Yalda Night, or shab -e chelleh as it’s also called, stems from Zoroastrianism and means “birth” in Syriac. Because days will slowly start to become longer after Yalda, it’s a celebration of the birth of the sun as a symbol of light conquering darkness, good conquering evil.
Is Yalda Islamic name?
Yalda is a Muslim Girl name which originates from the Persian language. Acording to Numerology Predictions, lucky number for Yalda is 4. Yalda name meaning in english are Name Of The Longest Night Of The Year.
Is Yalda Iranian name?
Do Muslims celebrate Shab e Yalda?
Why do people eat watermelon on Yalda?
Watermelon is another must eat red fruit on Yalda night. Watermelon symbolises health and wellbeing. Persians choose to eat watermelon on this night in order to immunise their bodies against the cold of winter ahead.
How do you say Happy Yalda in Persian?
So remember if you see Persian people around you on Dec 20-21, tell them “Shabe Yalda Mobarak!” or شب یلدا مبارک meaning Happy Yalda!