out of contest: Yalda or Chelle night

A poem of Hafez by my mom, it’s a tradition to read load one of his poems randomly to answering questions or asking bout future (“ 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.

People of ancient times, were accustomed to the passing of seasons and natural contradictions throughout the year due to experience. They did their work and activities by rotating the sun and changing seasons and heights.

They noticed that in some seasons the days were very long; and as a result, in those days, they could use more sunlight. The belief arose that the light and brightness of the sun were a symbol of goodness and agreement; and that they were in battle with the darkness of the night. Ancient people, including Aryans and Indo-Europeans, found that the shortest days are the last days of autumn and the first night of winter; and immediately after that, the days gradually get longer and the nights shorter. So they called this night, “The night of sun’s birth (Mehr)”; and made it the beginning of the year.)