Yalda
Significance of winter solstice in Persian culture
By Massoume Price
December 8, 1999
The Iranian
Yalda, a Syric word imported into the Persian language by Syric Christians means birth (tavalod and meelaad are from the same origin). It is a relatively recent arrival and refereed to the “Shab e Cheleh” festival, a celebration of Winter solstice on December 21st. Yalda, forty days before the next major Persian festival “Jashn e Sadeh”, has been celebrated in countless cultures for thousands of years. The ancient Roman festivals of Saturnalia (God of Agriculture, Saturn) and Sol Invicta (Sun God) are amongst the best known in the Western world.
In most ancient cultures, including Persia, the start of the solar year has been marked to celebrate the victory of light over darkness and the renewal of the Sun.
The Persians adopted their annual renewal festival from the Babylonians and incorporated it into the rituals of their own Zoroastrian religion. The last day of the Persian month of “Azar” is the longest night of the year, when the forces of Ahriman are assumed to be at their peak. While the next day, the first day of the month of “Day” known as “Khoram rooz” or “Khore rooz” (the day of the sun) belongs to Ahura Mazda, the Lord of Wisdom. Since the days are getting longer and the nights shorter, this day marks the victory of the sun over darkness. The occasion was celebrated in the festival of “Daygan” dedicated to Ahura Mazda, on the first day of the month of “Day”.
Fires would be burnt all night to ensure the defeat of the forces of Ahriman. There would be feasts, acts of charity and a number of deities honoured and prayers performed to ensure the total victory of the sun that was essential for the protection of winter crops. There would be prayers to Mithra (Mehr) and feasts in his honour, since Mithra is the Eyzad responsible for protecting “the light of the early morning”, known as “Havangah”. It was also assumed that Ahura Mazda would grant people’s wishes.
The Egyptian and Persian traditions merged in ancient Rome, in a festival dedicated to the ancient god of seedtime, Saturn. The Romans exchanged gifts, partied and decorated their homes with greenery. Following the Persian tradition, the usual order of the year was suspended. Grudges and quarrels would be forgotten and wars interrupted or postponed. Businesses, courts and schools were closed. Rich and poor became equal, masters served slaves, and children headed the family. Cross-dressing and masquerades, merriment of all kinds prevailed. A mock king, the Lord of Misrule, was crowned. Candles and lamps chased away the spirits of darkness.
It is not clear when and how the world “Yalda” entered the Persian language. The massive persecution of early Christians in Rome brought many Christian refugees into the Sassanid Empire and it is very likely that these Christians introduced and popularized “Yalda” in Iran. Gradually “Shab e Yalda” and “Shab e Cheleh” became synonymous and the two are used interchangeably. With the conquest of Islam the religious significance of the ancient Persian festivals was lost. Today “Shab e Cheleh” is merely a social occasion, when family and friends get together for fun and merriment. Different kinds of dried fruits, nuts, seeds and fresh winter fruits are consumed. The presence of dried and fresh fruits is reminiscence of the ancient feasts to celebrate and pray to the deities to ensure the protection of the winter crops.
To read more please go to: http://www.iranian.com/History/1999/December/Yalda/
شب یلدا. شبی برای جشن گرفتن
برای من شخصا این شب یاد آور روزگاری خوش است. روزگاری که تمام فامیل دور هم جمع می شدیم به همراه یکدنیا صفا و خلوص نیت…می گفتیم و می خندیدیم و می خوردیم تا پاسی از شب. دل شاد بودیم و شاداب. یادش بخیر…برای من از وقتی که ساکن غربت شده ام باز هم این شب عزیز است و همیشه سعی کرده ام دوستانم را دور هم جمع کنم تا تافالی به حافظ بزنیم و اناری بخوریم و یاد ایران باشیم و میراث فرهنگی غنی که داریم. اما امسال بعد از سالیان سال در این شب مادرم و مادر بزرگم در کنارم هستند و در ایران برادرم و پدرم جشنی بر پا کرده اند بیاد آن روزها…ما اینجا بیاد آنها و آنها بیاد گذشته ها…که همین یادها است که ما را انسان می کند و بقولی اشرف مخلوقات
در ضمن مطلب بالا را برای آشنائی بیشتر دوستان غیر ایرانی ام گذاشتم که با مطلب فارسی از دل بر آمده ام بکلی متفاوت است. ترجمه احوالات درونی ام به زبانی غیر فارسی همچنان برایم مشکل است
