YALDA Night

Yalda Night, the longest night of the year, is a celebration that brings warmth and connection to our hearts. On this magical night, families gather together, while melodies of love and ancient stories fill the air.

The Yalda table is adorned with colorful fruits and delicious treats; bright red pomegranates and sweet watermelons symbolize life and love. Each pomegranate seed is a reminder of hopes and joys, while the watermelon heralds warm, sunlit days ahead.

This night offers a chance for reunion and conversation, a moment to cherish friendships and familial bonds. The verses of Hafez and the tales of grandparents, accompanied by steaming tea and nuts, warm hearts and revive feelings of love and friendship.

Yalda is not just a night; it is a symbol of hope and anticipation for brighter days. It reminds us that after every dark night, a bright and pleasant morning will follow.

Also known as Shab-e Yalda or Shab-e Chelle, Yalda Night is one of the most ancient Persian festivals, celebrated annually on December 21 by Iranians around the world.

This event marks the longest night of the year, coinciding with the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere. The longest and darkest night is a time when friends and family gather to eat, drink, and read poetry—especially the works of Hafez—until well after midnight.

Fruits and nuts are eaten, with pomegranates and watermelons holding particular significance. The red color of these fruits symbolizes the crimson hues of dawn and the glow of life.

The poems from the Divan-e Hafez, found in the bookcases of most Iranian families, are recited on various occasions, including this festival and Nowruz.

Central Asian countries such as Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan, as well as some Caucasian states like Azerbaijan and Armenia, share this tradition and celebrate Yalda Night annually at this time of year.

This winter ceremony embodies the traditional concept of light and good prevailing over darkness and evil in ancient Iranian religion. The longest and darkest night marks the beginning of a forty-day period known as "Chelleh," from which the name derives. There are three forty-day periods in total: one in summer and two in winter. The two winter periods are known as the "great Chelleh" (from the first day of winter to the 11th of Bahman) and the "small Chelleh" (from the 10th to the 30th of Bahman).

Yalda Night (Shab-e Chelleh) marks the beginning of the "big Chelleh," occurring between the last day of autumn and the first day of winter.

The other name of the festival, 'Yaldā,' is ultimately a borrowing from Syriac-speaking Christians. In the 1st to 3rd centuries, significant numbers of Eastern Christians settled in Arsacid and Sassanid territories, where they received protection from religious persecution. Through them, Western Iranians (i.e., Parthians, Persians, etc.) came into contact with Christian religious observances, including Nestorian Christian Yalda, which in Syriac (a Middle Aramaic dialect) literally means "birth" and was also the proper name for Christmas in a religious context. This festival, celebrated on the eve of the winter solstice, was adopted by non-Christian neighbors. Although it is unclear when and where the Syriac term was borrowed into Persian, 'Shab-e Yalda' and 'Shab-e Chelleh' gradually became synonymous, with both names used interchangeably.

This festival is held every year

on December 21 by Iranians around the world.

The longest and darkest night marks the beginning of a forty-day period known as "Chelleh," from which the name derives. There are three forty-day periods in total: one in summer and two in winter. The two winter periods are known as the "great Chelleh" (from the first day of winter to the 11th of Bahman) and the "small Chelleh" (from the 10th to the 30th of Bahman).

This year, the program will be held in West Vancouver.

GET DIRECTION

Please check our website for the latest dates and location.

persianfestival.ca

ticketinfo.ca

iranianinfo.ca

You can participate by attending the festival, volunteering, or as a participant or sponsor. Please visit our website for more information on how to get involved, Click below

Volunteering

Sponsoring

Participant (buy ticket)

More info: 236.509.8525