Shab-e-Yalda (pronounced sh-AB, eh, y-AL-daw) translates directly to The Night of Yalda. Yalda is an ancient Persian word meaning “birth” or “rebirth”, and in Farsi, it refers to the winter solctice. The night is celebrated as the first day of winter and the last day of autumn in the Gregorian Calendar (commonly used today) which often lands on December 21 or 22. However, it is meant to correspond to the night between the last day of the ninth month and the first day of the tenth month of the Iranian solar calendar.

But the real question is, how did this unique holiday come to be? Well, it started a long time ago, and we mean a long time ago. Yalda night dates back to 502 BC during the reign of Darius the Great. Before the comfortable and convenient use of digital clocks, ancient peoples had to use daylight and nighttime to grasp time. And so, they learnt to do their work during the day when all was visible, warm, and relatively safe as an internal instinct. This in turn, made nightfall an enemy to people, hindering their time to work, socialize, and go outside (thank you Benjamin Franklin for electricity). Naturally, people realized that some seasons had longer days whereas others had longer nights and cleverly pinpointed when the change occurred, hence the day becoming “The night of Sun’s birth” as a way of marking the start of brighter and longer days.

Now enough of the history. What do most Iranians do to celebrate on this special night? Shab-e-Yalda is when we must fight against the darkness and stay up with friends and family, having fun that would typically be associated with daytime as a way to ward off evil and danger. Sharing delectable tea, the last fruits of the summer, and hardy nuts are a big part of this celebration, all harbouring their own symbolism and tradition. Take watermelon, for example, which is meant to make a person immune to cold winter weather and the following summer’s heat. Or the famous pomegranate, a sign of fertility, light and goodness that opposes the force of darkness.

Now, what do we do for fun? We read your future! Well, not exactly, but something pretty close. Reading poetry aloud to one another, reciting memorable stories, and predicting the future through these pastimes are common in the celebration. More specifically, the book of Hafez or Divan Hafez. Khwaje Shams-od-Din Mohammad Hafez Shirazi is one of the most famous and renowned Iranian poets of the 14th century. Hafez is highly valued and loved by Iranians, with almost all Iranians keeping a copy of his book of poems as one of their prized possessions. And so, when Yalda Night rolls around, it is routine to dust off the large book and put it to work. On the night of the sun’s birth (an allude to rebirth and brighter futures), Hafez is used as a traditional magic eight ball. Folks gather together, think of a question (or multiple) about their future, and randomly flip through the book’s pages to find their answer. Most Iranians believe that Hafez will answer if you ask him a question or make a wish from the bottom of your heart. Questions such as: how will my financial situation look next year? Will I fall in love? Can I graduate with honours? What is my calling? A simple passage from the book, with its silken words, romantic language, and ancient meanings, will hold the answers within its midst (even if you don’t get it at first).

Yalda night is a celebration adored by many Persians and it can be celebrated by all! Grab a few pomegranates, gather your friends, bring along the book of Hafez, and join in celebrating alongside your Iranian brothers and sisters!