Winter Festival

In the East more than in the West, lifestyles have often remained more in tune with nature. Therefore, natural rhythms change from morning to evening, from month to month, and finally from season to season. This integration of nature into life cycles is especially true in Iran. The winter solstice, December 21 or 22, is the longest night of the year. In Iran this night is called Shab-e yalda, which refers to the birthday or rebirth of the sun. The ceremony is traced to the primal concept of Light and Good against Darkness and Evil in the ancient Iranian religion. This night with Evil at its zenith is considered unlucky. From this day forward, Light triumphs as the days grow longer and give more light. Shab-e yalda is in the Persian month of Day, which was also the name of the pre-Zoroastrian creator god (deity). Later he became known as the God of Creation and Light, from which we have the English word day (the period of light in twenty-four hours).