Iranians celebrate the arrival of winter with the Yalda festival. Yalda, or Shab-e Chelleh ("the night of Chelleh") is an ancient and uniquely Iranian festival celebrated on the longest and darkest night of the year, marking the Dec. 21 winter solstice.  Yalda comes from the Zoroastrian tradition and means birth, the renewal of the sun, and the victory of light over darkness.  Zoroastrianism is an ancient and indigenous Iranian faith that predates Christianity.  The biblical Magi, who traveled following a star to visit the baby Jesus in Israel, were believed by scholars to have been Zoroastrians.  Zoroastrians still exist in Iran today, and their traditions are widely followed by Iranians.  The Yalda Night festival traditions include friends and family gathering together until well after midnight, to eat and read poetry (especially Hafez – one of the most renowned Persian poets);...(Read Full Post)