Shab-E Yalda

We are so incredibly fortunate to experience the winter season with our children and families.  Each year I learn something new from all of you.  Thank you!  This year Afsaneh came in to share the Iranian solstice celebration of Shab-E Yalda with the children.   In Iran the longest night of the year is called Shab-e Yalda (the birthday of the sun). It is known as the victory of light over darkness because after this night the days will become incrementally longer (YAY!). On this night, the families keep lights glowing to help the sun in its "battle against the night". They recite poetry (Hafez), play music and tell jokes and stories, talk and eat and eat and talk until the sun reappears in the morning! 

Afsaneh also set up a korsi (a square table covered with a thick cloth overhanging on all sides) to enjoy a delicious feast of fruits, sweets, and nuts, symbolizing health and prosperity.
In addition she prepared a feast for all of us to enjoy, including: Eggplant Khoresh (stew), rice and halva and shared pomegranates for the children to de-seed.

 It was an absolutely beautiful day!

Here is a letter from the Noori's to our families

SHAB e YALDA: A Persian Celebration

Dear Families,

Today, the children learned about Shab e Yalda and had a tasting of the foods eaten.

Shab e Yalda is an evening of festivities and merriment that begins when the sun sets on the last day of fall and continues until the dawn of the first day of winter. It falls on the longest night of the year, this year being December 20th. It is known as the birthday of the sun and as the “victory” of light taking over darkness. After this night the daytime starts to slowly increase. On this night families keep lights glowing to help the sun in its “battle” against darkness. They recite poetry (by Hafez), play music, tell jokes and stories, talk and eat and eat and talk until the sun reappears in the morning!

To this day Yalda remains as one of the most ancient festive ceremonies that has been celebrated in Iran for centuries. By tradition Iranians gather in the homes of the elders of family or friends on Yalda night, eat (fresh fruit, dried fruit and nuts), drink tea and be merry. The main Yalda fruits are watermelon, pomegranate, persimmons, apples and pears. Nuts and dried fruit (particularly pumpkin seeds, watermelon seeds and raisins) are eaten on Yalda night along with a specific dinner menu.

There is a saying in Farsi that goes something like this: I wish you a long and happy life like Shab e Yalda, sweet as watermelon and fruitful as pomegranates!

Happy Shab e Yalda!

With Love,

-The Noori's