Christmas taken from Yalda | Where is the Yalda green tree?

The etymology of the word Yalda and Cheleh

What does Yalda mean?

Yalda is a Syriac word meaning birth. Syriac was a language common among Christians. This meaning is obtained from the study and research in dictionaries and historical books. Abu Rihan al-Biruni, a versatile scientist and calendarist, refers to the night of Yalda as Milad Akbar, and the meaning of this name is Milad Khorshid. The book of Al-Baqiyah works is written by him. The book is written in Arabic and several Persian translations are currently being published. In this book, Abu Rihan has studied the chronology and calendar of different ethnic groups. If you are interested, you can read the ceremonies and celebrations of ancient tribes in this book.

It is not clear exactly when and how the word Yalda entered the Persian language. History shows that the early Christians, who had a difficult life in Rome, and some of them emigrated to Iran. Due to cultural proximity, this Syriac word finds its way into Persian.

What does Shab Cheleh mean?

Shab-e Cheleh is actually the night of Yalda. Because from the next night onwards, the great winter solstice begins, that night is called the solstice.

In ancient times, Iranians also had a kind of holistic calendar. This calendar was mostly used in agriculture and animal husbandry. They knew two times of the year as Cheleh. The summer solstice started in July and the winter solstice started in December. The challahs were each divided into two periods; Big and small. The first forty days were called big Cheleh and the next twenty days were called small Cheleh.

The great winter solstice that begins just after Yalda night; It is the beginning of winter and the intensity of cold is more in it. The Great Depression lasts until the 10th of Bahman. After that, the small Chaleh begins and continues until the first of March. The severity of the cold in the small cell is less, and it does less damage. The four days of the end of the great hump, and the four days of the beginning of the small hump, are called four or four, during which the extreme cold occurs.

History of Yalda night

The history of Yalda night goes back to the distant past. But the exact date is not known. Some archaeologists date the night of Yalda to 7,000 years. They refer to prehistoric pottery. These dishes have animal motifs of Iranian fish, such as rams and scorpions. Of course, these motifs are rare in archaeological inscriptions and findings. But archaeologists believe that the ritual of Yalda night can be traced back to seven thousand years ago.

However, what is known as Yalda night dates back to about 500 BC. Yalda entered the official calendar of the ancient Iranians during the reign of Darius I. A calendar derived from the Babylonian and Egyptian chronicles.

Reasons for holding Yalda night celebration

Ancient Iranian beliefs are based on myths and knowledge of cosmic events. There are various narrations about the reason for holding the Yalda night celebration.

The first narrative; The victory of light over light and darkness

In ancient times, people’s lives were based on agriculture and animal husbandry, and the effects of climate were very important to them. By observation and experience, people understood the constant changes of night and day and seasons. The always curious human being, after discovering how an event occurs, looks for its philosophy and why.

They saw the effects of light and darkness and heat and cold on their lives. From the influences they received, they came to the conclusion that light, “day”, and sun are the symbols of the Creator and goodness. In contrast, night and cold are signs of evil and evil.

From these observations, they came to believe that night and day, and light and darkness, are in a constant struggle. Longer days were a sign of the victory of light, and shorter days were a sign of the victory of darkness.

In this way, they celebrated the last day of autumn, which is the longest night of the year. Because the next day, the days get a little longer and the Creator triumphs over the devil of light over darkness.

Narration 2: The night of the birth of Mehr and Mitra (the sun) and the beginning of creation

The religion of Mehr or Mithraism was prevalent in Iran before the Zoroastrian religion. This ritual was based on the worship of Mitra (Mehr). Mitra is an Indian and Iranian deity. On the one hand, he represents love and affection, and on the other hand, he is the mediator of making covenants. He represents keeping the covenant and being honest. Mehr is also a judge among warriors and punishes liars and violators. The symbol of this god is a ring. Some claim that the history of the marriage ring goes back to the same myth. The sun is also the symbol of Mithra.

Mehr worshipers consider Yalda night to be the night of Mitra (Izad Mehr)’s birthday. As in a long and cold night, the god of love appears in a low and low cave and brings the sun.

According to another narration, Mitra returns to the world on this night. He prolongs the hours of the day; As a result, the superiority of the sun emerges.

Some studies have concluded that a prophet is born on the night of Yalda. This birth takes place in the year 51 of the Parthian kingdom, which is equivalent to 196 AD. A prophet is born at sea at night when he is pulled out of the water by two dolphins. Water has been of special importance in the ritual of Mehr.

Regarding the names of the months of Azar and Dey, it is said: “Azar (the element of fire) represents a god or an Minoan angel. This god was considered sacred and important in the Zoroastrian tradition and Mehr worship. The sacred fire in the fire temples is the manifestation of this god. On the contrary, Diyat, which is the beginning of winter, was considered evil and demonic. Di is basically the same demon named after the coldest winter month. Therefore, Azar is the symbol of Ahura Mazda and Dey is the symbol of the devil. “The contrast between fire, light, and holiness with darkness and cold and filth.”

Some believe that the name of the month of January comes from the Mithraic religion and means Dadar and God. Because with the beginning of Di Mitra, he defeats the devil.

At first glance, it seems that the night of the birth of Mehr should be in the month of Mehr; Or on the sunniest days of the year! It is true that we are at the beginning of the coldest days of the year, but the logic behind this myth makes it believable. The longer days and shorter nights indicate the rebirth of the sun.

Mehr’s customs did not disappear after the spread of Zoroastrianism but became part of their rituals. Zarathustra called the great god Ahura Mazda and divided the gods into two groups, Ahura and Diwani. One of these Ahuraian gods was Mehr (the sun). Mehr is one of the good gods and a part of Avesta is named after him (Mehr Yasht). It is stated in Mehr Yasht:
“Mehr looks at an Iranian from the sky with thousands of eyes so that he does not lie.”

Yalda night and Christianity

Various Christian denominations celebrate the birth of Christ on a day close to the winter solstice. Their New Year, which begins on the 11th of December, is close to Yalda night. Some historians and archaeologists believe that the Gregorian calendar, with minor modifications, was a continuation of the birth of the sun, which was later attributed to the birth of Christ. According to them, this calendar originated in Rome in the fourth century AD.

You may ask, what has Mithraism got to do with Rome and Christianity? In ancient Rome, the birth of the invincible sun-god (Sol Invictus) was celebrated on the day of the winter solstice. This Roman deity was a combination of the sun god and the Mithra of the cult of love.

How did Mithraism find its way to Rome? It is said that when Zoroastrianism became the official religion of Iran, worshipers were restricted in Asia Minor. In the first century BC, the Romans conquered Asia Minor. This religion was gradually spread in Rome by prisoners of war. Mercy, or Mithraism, gradually found its place among merchants, armies, and even Roman emperors; By the beginning of the fourth century, there were more than 300 Mithraic temples in Italy. At that time, most Romans celebrated the night of Yalda. Finally, in 313, the Roman emperor Constantine I, because of his interest in Christianity, issued a decree liberating the religion in Rome. He changed the birth of Mithra to the birth of Christ. He argued that Christians were confused about the date of Jesus’ birth and that Jesus was the embodiment of light. So the birthday of the sun must be the birth of Christ. And set the date of Jesus’ birth as December 22; The same day Mithra’s birthday. This date was later changed to December 25 due to differences in leap calculations. Previously, the birth of Christ was known as January 6 or 7. Today, Armenian Christians celebrate the birth of Christ on the same day.

The famous Swiss psychologist Carl Jung had an opinion on Mithraism. In The Symbol of Transformation, he extensively describes the effects of Mithraism on Christianity. If you are interested in doing more research in this field, you will find images and symbols related to this subject in the fifth volume of this collection of works.

The influence of Yalda in the celebrations of other tribes 

 Some historians believe that most of the customs of Christianity are derived from seal worship (sun worship) or Mithraism. Such as the birth of Christ in a cage, which they say is taken from the birth of Mithra in the cave, as well as Christmas Eve, which coincides with Yalda, as well as the cypress and pine tree, which in the ritual of Mehr was decorated with a rising star. (The star is a sign that guides the merchants to reach Mithra in the cave – the cypress tree was loved because it was a symbol of freedom and resistance to darkness, whose works can be found in abundance in Persian literature – the pine tree is, therefore, It became common in European countries that their natural environment was better for growing pine). Another similarity is the hat of Santa Claus, with a hat similar to the hat of the priests of the Mehr religion.

Of course, according to the Christian scriptures (Bible: New Testament), the birth of Jesus Christ took place in one of the equinoxes (spring or autumnal equinoxes) and not in winter (as stated in the Bible, which at the time of The Nativity of Christ “The shepherds took their flocks to pasture” (as historians of the early centuries of the spread of Christianity narrate) Replacing it with the celebration of the winter solstice or the birthday of the sun.

* About 4,000 years ago in Ancient Egypt, the celebration of the “rebirth of the sun”, coinciding with the night of the night, was celebrated. The Egyptians celebrated the 12 days of the solar year for the 12 months of the solar year, celebrating the triumph of light over darkness. They also used 12 palm leaves to decorate the venue, marking the end of the year and the beginning of the new year.

* In Ancient Greece, the first day of winter was the day of worship of the sun god, and it was called the indestructible sun * Natalis Invictus (derived from the word natal mentioned above, which means birth and birth). Yalda has its roots in another traditional Greek holiday. One of the most important of these is Saturn.

* In parts of southern Russia, similar celebrations are now being held on the occasion of Cheleh. These rituals are very similar to the nightly ritual. Baking local pastry bread in the form of living creatures, various local games, allegorical cultivation and sowing and reconstruction of cultivation ceremonies, covering the surface of the cottage with fat, placing skins on each of the windows, hanging wool from the ceiling, sprinkling wheat on the yard, song Singing, dancing and singing and, most importantly, sacrificing animals have been and are special rituals of this celebration. Another celebration night ritual was divination and divination of possible events of the coming year. The same rituals are more or less seen in Iranian villages, which show the similarity of the Yalda celebration in Iran and Russia.

* On this night, the Jews also hold a festival called “Ilanot” (Tree Festival) and worship by lighting candles.

* Assyrians also eat nuts on the night of Yalda and spend the night sitting and talking until late at night, and in educated Assyrian families, divination with Hafez’s divan is also common.

* The first day of winter is also considered very dear and great by the people of Khorramdin who follow Mazdak and it is called “Khorram Rooz” (donkey day) and special rituals are held on that day. This ceremony, as well as the winter solstice, is still seen among some tribes, such as the local calendars of the Pamirs and Badakhshan (in northern Afghanistan and southern Tajikistan)

Where is the Yalda green tree?

It is not yet clear when and how the word Yalda came into Persian. But a group of historians believes that perhaps the persecution and mistreatment of Christians sent them to Iran during the Sassanian, and this group migrated to this land and put the word in Persian. But the main discussion That is, the celebration of this day was common in this land and in many ancient cultures derived from Persian culture, the victory of light over darkness was celebrated on this day. Four thousand years ago in Egypt, the rebirth of life was celebrated on this night and then for 12 The day was celebrated from the 12 states taken from the sun in different months. The Persians also celebrated this day with special religious ceremonies during the Zoroastrian rule. Old texts and books say about this day: “The last day of the Persian month of Azar when the devil defeats Ahuramazda, which is the birthday of the sun and is also known as Khorram Rooz.

 that is always green and fresh and resistant to cold and darkness. Hence, the cypress was a symbol of radiant and life-giving love and a sign of immortality, freedom and stability against deadly forces. For this reason, on the night of the birth of the seal, they decorated the “cypress seal” and placed gifts on it, and made a covenant with themselves to plant another evergreen cypress for another year. On this basis, the cypress tree has long been an integral and inseparable member of Iranian paradise gardens, whose relics are still on the petroglyphs of the city of Parseh and the remnants of Mehri shrines and silk patterns, Persian garden rugs and many other works of art from different historical periods from Gabbeh and From kilims and cashmere to miniatures and tiles, various buildings have survived. ‌

Although many of the ceremonies of this festival have disappeared over the years, according to the documents available on this day, the Sassanid kings in white robes like ordinary people left their class among the common people and the king was one of the people. The choice was to walk the streets of the city.
In ancient times, the Egyptians, like the Iranians, celebrated the Seed Season on this day, which inspired the Iranians to decorate their homes, and war and violence were forgotten on this day, altogether. Were. The rich and the poor and the slaves and one of the interesting points of this ceremony are that the children were the guardians of the house on this day and at the same time they lit candles until the morning to escape the darkness and gloom. The most important Christian holiday of these two holidays, Yalda and the birth of Christ, was celebrated in one day. This Zoroastrian scholar writes: With the victory of Islam in the land of Persia and the conditions prevailing in Iran in the first years, many Persian celebrations were forgotten. Nowadays, Shab-e Cheleh has become a social celebration where relatives and friends gather together and eat the fresh and dried fruits of winter in this ceremony. People pray that the cold does not destroy their crops. The climates of Iran, which have an ancient civilization, celebrate Shab-e Cheleh with the celebration of their tree, which coincides with Yalda, and this celebration is very close to Shab-e Cheleh. Candles are lit, and various fruits are arranged in the celebration and special meat is cooked. In the south of Russia, too, there are very close celebrations like Shab-e Cheleh. Sweetbreads are arranged in the shape of animals and humans, light a fire, and dance around it. A researcher from the University of Baltimore writes in introducing Yalda night: Yalda is a celebration. Although the Persian New Year begins in March, people gather on this day to commemorate the longest night of the year. This tradition has survived since the time of the Prophet Zarathustra. However, many Zoroastrian festivals have changed over the centuries, and now 300,000 Zoroastrians living in India and Iran celebrate some Zoroastrian festivals. Yalda in Pakistan and India, and in Washington and North America. It is celebrated by Zoroastrians. At the Yalda night celebration held in Washington last year, many Persian, Indian and Pakistani Zoroastrians danced to Iranian music until sunrise. Last year, a Zoroastrian scholar addressed the guests on Yalda night: How many people? Are they ready for the Christmas tree here? A number of hands went up. Then he asked how many people decorated the Yalda tree, the guests were surprised and some laughed. “This is what you should have: the Yalda tree,” the researcher said sharply. Because the Christmas tree is taken from the Yalda tree. He then went on to say that in ancient Persia, on the night of Yalda, a green tree was decorated as a symbol of evergreens. That is the birthday of the sun. The young girls wished and tied silver woven garments around the tree to get what they wanted, but this custom slowly changed, because Christians and Pope Leo in the fourth century tried to break the tradition and eventually won. Were. The coincidence of the birth of Christ with the night of Yalda caused these two celebrations to be held together, but gradually, with the constant change of history, its time changed. In the eighteenth century, the German “Lutherans” adapted the Persian Yalda tree to include the Christmas tree as a Christmas decoration. With the spread of Islam in Iran, Zoroastrians held their ceremonies in secret for a long time, so much so that many traditions due to hiding this celebration became obsolete and in many places such as Pakistan and India, this custom has faded very much, but in Iran, it is still alive. According to Yalda night, it is the time of Mehr or Mithra’s birth. Aryan fans in Iran, India, and Europe celebrate this night with a slight change in tradition. At the beginning of the night, different tribes and groups of people gather by lighting a fire and eating the fruits of winter and the fruits they have dried during the summer, and praying and reciting poetry.

A study of Yalda night in historical books

Abu Rihan al-Biruni, a scientist of the fourth century AH, says about the night of Yalda in the works of Al-Baqiyah: “It is said that on this day, the light goes out from the limit of excess to the point of excess, and human beings begin to grow and appear, and fairies (demons) turn to perdition and annihilation.”

This celebration, that is, the first day of January, is also called ninety days ; Because there is exactly ninety days between it and Nowruz. January and it is also called Khor Mah. The first day is Khorram Rooz, and this day and this month are both in the name of God.

According to the evidence, the choice of this current date as the birth of Christ took place in later centuries, and according to Abu Rihan al-Biruni, the meaning of the birth of Yalda and Yalda is the birth of the sun.

Abu Rihan al-Biruni also mentions in the book of Mas’udi’s law: Khor Rooz means the day of the sun; The birthday of the sun which is invincible. “This day is attributed to Ahuramazda and is one of the four days of the Digan festivals (synonymous with day and month).”

According to Abu Rihan al-Biruni, the ancient Sistani calendar began at the beginning of winter. Interestingly, the first month was called Christ, which is very similar to Christ, which means Christ in English.

Mohammad Hossein Khalaf Tabrizi is the author of the dictionary Borhan Qate. This dictionary was written in 1030 AH and defined Yalda as follows: “Yalda is the first night of winter and the last night of autumn, which is the first serious and the last of the arc, and it is the longest night in the whole year; That night, or close to that night, the sun delivers to a serious tower and it is said that night is extremely miserable and unlucky. “Some have said that Yalda 11 is serious.”

According to Roman records, this custom was performed in ancient Iran in such a way that the elders and the pious went to the hill, in new clothes, and with a special ceremony, asked the sky to send that great leader for the salvation of the people; It was believed that the signs of the birth of that savior were a star that would appear on top of a mountain called Turquoise Mountain, which had a very beautiful tree (cypress or pine), and the great priest recited for this prayer, part of which remained in “Bahman Yasht”: “On the night when my lord appears, a sign will come from the kingdom, a star will fall from the sky, just as my leader will come and show his star.”

Shab Cheleh (Yalda) in terms of astronomy

From the beginning of summer, every day the sun rises a little closer to the south than yesterday. In the same way, at sunset, it sets a little closer to the south than before. This causes the sun to tilt south from the center of the sky every day, and sunrise and sunset occur earlier. The result is shorter day length and increased darkness time. On January 1, the sun rises to its lowest southern level, 23.5 degrees east, at sunrise. This position of the earth is called the winter solstice. From this day on, the direction of sunrise shifts is reversed. That is, the points of sunrise and sunset are farther south and closer to the north. In the same way, the days get longer and the nights get shorter. This event will be repeated on July 1.

What are the customs of Yalda night?

Yalda night customs have not changed much over time.

Fire

They used to sit around a chair. Earlier, they used to gather around the fire and now the heaters are heating the house. In the past, the fire was a symbol of the sun, and the fire was built to protect it. Of course, some also believe that they lit the fire to remove the evil of the devil and the darkness. The task of this fire was to destroy and flee the darkness and the demonic forces.

Proverbs or storytelling on Yalda night

Proverbs, which are a form of poetry and storytelling, were practiced in ancient times. In this way, families would gather tonight and the elders would tell stories to everyone.

They are like little stories and unreal stories. Most of the heroes of those animals are demons and fairies and are said or written for the entertainment and pleasure of children.

Stories about their own culture are more prevalent in any part of the country. For example, Azerbaijanis read the story of Hussein Kurd Shabestari, and Khorasanians read more stories than Shahnameh stories.

Hafiz’s fortune on Yalda night

Usually, on the nights of the great Yalda, the family goes to Hafez Tefali’s court. Taking the fortune-teller of Hafez on the night of Yalda is such that the audience intends fortune-telling and the great speaker of the parliament says this sentence or something like this:

Then he opens the court. The sonnet on the right is the answer to divination. If it is in the middle of the sonnet, the horoscope is read from the beginning of the sonnet which is on the back page. Three verses of the next sonnet will also witness the horoscope. After reciting the sonnet, he interprets the omen. If the content of the poem is positive, the omen is considered good and if it is not, it is considered bad. Since most of Hafiz’s lyric poems have mystical, romantic, and hopeful content, fortune tellers usually inspire.

Reading Shahnameh

Another inseparable part of Yalda night is reading Shahnameh. This custom has been common in Iran for a long time. The charm of reading Shahnameh is multiplied by the narration method. Unfortunately, this tradition of narration is being destroyed. You should be very lucky to have such a person in your family.

Yalda night table

One of the most attractive rituals of Yalda night or Shab-e Cheleh is its table and food. Yalda’s dinner includes special fruits, special nuts, and other snacks. In ancient times, a tablecloth called a table was spread on the night of Cheleh. They put fresh and dried fruits, nuts, or so-called Zoroastrians on the table. Lark was one of the main components of this table and was the feast of this celebration. Other components of this tablecloth include fire, perfumers, eater, and Barsam. Barsam is a prayer instrument made of a special plant branch or brass and silver metal.

Yalda night fruits

Fruits are the main part of Yalda’s table. In this table, the main role is played by red fruits. The red color of these fruits is a symbol of the sun.

Pomegranate

Pomegranate is the main fruit of Yalda’s dinner table. The ancients considered pomegranate to be the fruit of fertility and blessing. They received this meaning from its many seeds. Pomegranate is also a symbol of happiness and the sun because of its red color. Eating pomegranate on Yalda night was due to the belief in the effect of its contagious magic. That is, by taking pomegranate and eating it, they received the blessing from its many seeds and increased their fertility. In the same way, pomegranate is one of the fruits that are left in the bride’s Yalda reading.

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This fruit has been known as a sacred fruit since ancient times. Pomegranate has a special place even in the major religions of the world. It is also mentioned in myths and legends. In Zoroastrianism, the pomegranate is one of the Minoan trees and is considered a sacred and blessed element. Zoroastrians use their branches and fruits in their religious ceremonies.

Pomegranate is also considered a sacred fruit by Muslims and is mentioned in the Holy Quran as a heavenly fruit. Eating this fruit is recommended by religious leaders.

Watermelon

Watermelon, like pomegranate, is a special fruit for the Yalda table. But isn’t it weird to eat the first watermelon in the cold? It should be said that we all know that watermelon is a summer fruit; So watermelon, in addition to red, is a symbol of the sun and is reminiscent of summer heat and heat.

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It was believed that if they ate some watermelon at night; They will be safe from cold and disease all over the country, big and small. Watermelon, like pomegranate, is also a plump fruit and a symbol of blessing and abundance.

Autumn fruits

Other fruits on the Yalda table include a variety of autumn fruits. In the past, along with pomegranate and watermelon, seasonal fruits were also placed on the table. Fruits such as oranges and citrus fruits, apples, persimmons, pears, and even lips and pumpkin can have a place on the Yalda table.

Snacks and nuts on Yalda night

On this night, more important than dinner, snacks and nuts are for Yalda night. In the past, it was not easy to store fruits for a long time; Many fruits were dried for storage and consumption in other seasons.

Yalda Night Nuts

Nuts such as pistachios, walnuts, almonds, and hazelnuts are the main components of nuts for Yalda night. Dried figs and berries are also present. Chickpeas and raisins have long existed among the nuts of Yalda night. Apart from these, roasted wheat and chickpeas, hemp, watermelon seeds, and pumpkin were also among the nuts of Yalda night.

Photo by reyhan.aali @

Snacks have also been added to Yalda night nuts. Today, basalq and pashmak are also among the sweets of this table.

It is true that nuts are known as the healthiest snacks, But be aware of the high calories and the great variety of foods on the Yalda table.

Fruit leaf

Dried fruits are one of the popular snacks on Yalda night. A suitable substitute for unhealthy snacks and large volumes of industrial sweets. In addition to shopping at nuts and nuts stores, you can even buy dried fruit leaves at home. There are a few simple ways to do this.

• Using the sun is the most common way to dry fruits. Leave the fruits in the sun for a few days after chopping.
• There is also a fruit dryer on the market. They are easy to work with and will deliver the dried sheets to you within 24 hours.
• Drying using heat and airflow, which is done with low heat and usually in the oven.
• Another method is drying with sugar. In this method, the fruits are dried or soaked in sugar syrup.
• Fruits can also be dried by frying. This method is very suitable for drying high-starch and low-moisture fruits such as bananas.
• If you are an apartment dweller, you can also use the radiator to prepare fruit sheets. Peel fruits that are not edible. Cut them into rings. Place them on foil or tray and place on the stove. You can also use the fan. It is better to have the radiator in a dark place. If this is not possible, cover the tray with a clean, white cloth to prevent direct light from reaching the sheets. After a day, return the fruit leaves so that they do not stick to the dish. After three to four days, your dried fruits are ready to eat.
• Another method for those who have limited space. Roll the fruits as before. Spread a clean white cloth on a surface above the ground. Pour the fruits over it. The place should be dark or covered like the previous method. Do the same as before and return the fruits the next day. This method is more natural and better. It takes 7 to 8 days to prepare the sheets in this way. So get to work because there is no time left.

One of the most attractive rituals of Shab-e Cheleh is the Yalda night table and its food. Foods include special nuts, dried fruits such as dried berries, figs, peach, and apricot leaves, fruits such as watermelon and pomegranate, and a variety of sweets. All of these have a symbolic aspect and are a sign of blessing, health, abundance, and happiness.

Tricks and ideas to decorate the Yalda night table

You can try the following suggestions to decorate the Yalda night table.

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• Yalda night tablecloth has a more intimate and refined effect if it is spread on the ground. Your tablecloth can be colorful cashmere. There is no problem if the furniture occupies the living space. You can make it suitable for Yalda night by throwing traditional covers or kilims.
• If you can provide a chair that you have worked on and restore the originality of Yalda night. No heating device replaces the old chairs.
• The sound of the samovar is reminiscent of the good old days. Saffron tea is both good in color and invigorating. Pour the tea into a slim glass and serve on old trays such as a copper tray. By doing this, you will give a traditional color to Yalda’s dinner table.
• Do not forget the candles and incense on the table. The smell of incense and candlelight gives a spiritual mood to the table.
• Sweets have a beautiful appearance in crystal and colored containers. You can also paint and glaze the tablecloth using Iranian pottery and handicrafts. Another option is to put the fruit in a wicker dish that goes well with the fruit. Choosing dishes of one shape or variety gives a different effect to your tablecloth. It is your taste that is decisive.
• If you are going to have a brief ceremony, put Yalda tableware in small containers and arrange them all in a large assembly.
• Definitely part of the Yalda night celebration is for children. Not all the amount of sweets on the table is suitable for children. So at least put some sweets on the table for them that are useful and also attractive. It is not hard work; You can make colorful jellies and even watermelon jelly.
• Watermelon skin has a suitable and attractive capacity for your art. You can put your fruits in the empty skin of watermelon with a special taste.
• Decorate fruits with engraving art. It is easier to engrave on fruits that have relatively firmer skin. You have definitely seen the artistic engravings on the watermelon. Take a sharp knife, work a little artistry and creativity; The result will definitely be eye-catching.
• You are far from your city and country and you do not know; For example, are you a student? Do not be sad! Pick some colorful pomegranates and pick some autumn leaves from the dorm yard. Put the leaves on the table and put the pomegranates on it. Completely minimalist, simple, and beautiful. Being together is important, thank God you do not have a deficit in terms of numbers.
• Most importantly, keep it simple! Do not diminish the intimacy and comfort of this period by being excessive in Yalda night preparations.