Yalda Night by “World Weaver”

Yalda Night, or Shab-e Chelleh, is one of the Iranian celebrations. This festival commemorates the longest night of the year and the subsequent lengthening of the days in the Northern Hemisphere, coinciding with the winter solstice. The night of Chelleh begins at sunset on December 30 (the last day of autumn) and continues until sunrise on January 1 (the first day of winter). Iranian families typically prepare various fruits, most commonly watermelon, pomegranate, and persimmon, and gather together to enjoy them. Reciting the Shahnameh (the Book of Kings) and storytelling by the elders of the family for the younger members, as well as fortune-telling with the Divan-e-Hafez, are also common practices. In the Southern Hemisphere, however, Yalda Night is the shortest night of the year.

Happy Yalda