How Did the Iranian Society Spend Yalda?

What is the state of Iranian society on the longest night of the year, the ancient Yalda that never grows old? In ancient times, Iranians would bring a lamp to the Yalda night party. The old Iranians sometimes spent Yalda night waiting for the sunrise until dawn on the Alborz slopes. What is Iranian society doing these days on the birthday of the sun? We go to the streets of the city. Some say they have forgotten Yalda: 'Honestly, we don’t know what Yalda is. We don’t even remember life. Are you looking for Yalda night? If there is money, there is Yalda night and everything else. If there is no money, there is nothing. Right now, we are sitting in the cold for a few coins. Do people even remember Yalda night anymore? Why do the rich, those who have, know what Yalda is?' Another citizen says: 'It has changed a lot; it has become completely quiet. The Yalda nights of the past were much better. They used to gather around the heater with the elders. Now, families have become both quieter and more strict. Problems have increased. There is more extravagance. [In the past] they would prepare one type of food, ordinary fruits, mostly dried fruits, raisins, nuts, and such things, but now most people are more strict.' However, some others still feel the spirit of Yalda: 'The younger ones go to the older ones' houses, bringing watermelon, fruits, sweets, and nuts, gathering together to talk about the past, present, and future. It is a very nice night. It is truly a bond where the younger ones go to the older ones' houses, and I think it is a very good night. It is a night of kindness.' Another citizen: 'My older brother invites all family members. The feast is established, and there is extensive cooking, and there are fruits, and Ms. Laleh also reads Hafez's fortune, and we have a great time.' The voice of another citizen: 'When families gather, there is a lot of warmth and intimacy, and when we gather around the elder of the family and he reads fortunes, it feels very good. It is very enjoyable, the jokes and laughter we have, the conversations we have. Especially since distances have increased, it is a good opportunity for everyone to gather and see each other.' Certainly, from ancient Iran to today, the Yalda night of Iranians has undergone many changes. Even in recent years, changes can be traced from year to year in Iranian society. One Tehran citizen speaks of these changes: 'I think in very ancient times there was a special ceremony where people would tell stories, go to the elders, read Hafez's fortune, and read the Shahnameh, then I think for a while it was not like that, but now people are trying to be warmer again and adhere more to traditions. What I see is that thank God, I think people are returning to traditions again.' But what are these traditions? On Yalda night, families gather together and have pomegranates, watermelons, and nuts at their parties. Some say that economic conditions play a role in whether or not Yalda gatherings and parties happen. As prices go up and down, the state of Iranian families and their old and sweet traditions also change. We go to fruit and nut sellers, those who sell Yalda night supplies. 'What a beautiful pomegranate... a beautiful pomegranate... the biggest night in history... the watermelon has come from the garden, it has ripened and grown fat... oh, oh, tonight is Yalda night...' A fruit seller: 'We have all kinds of prices from a thousand tomans up. This year, there are a lot of watermelons; they are cheap. We sell them for 1800 tomans. This has been our job for 30 years now. It is clear what a good watermelon is or isn’t. Everyone has a specialty. For example, they say if you touch the watermelon, you can tell. We can tell by looking if this watermelon is good or bad... pomegranate is five thousand tomans. This price won’t go up. God willing, they will pay for eating it and not for the doctor.' The union of fruits and vegetables says that the prices of fruits for Yalda have not changed. However, still, the most expensive item on the Yalda table for Iranian families is various nuts. 'Sweet nuts are preferred more, ranging from 20 to 60 thousand tomans per kilo. They always buy nuts. Compared to previous years, it has decreased, but it is still not bad.' Another nut seller: 'Various raw dried fruits, raisins, figs, and such are used. Starting from 28 thousand tomans.' And another nut seller says: 'The market has weakened a bit. The situation of the people is a bit bad. God willing, it will get better.' But when we come home from the street, the main event happens in the houses where the old and young, grandmothers and grandfathers, gather together to enjoy the longest night of the year: 'The kids play music, and we listen. Our kids have worked on music; they play instruments, and others enjoy... but the number of guests coming to grandmothers' houses has decreased.' However, it is not just watermelon, seeds, and nuts; Yalda in many Iranian homes is also a night of Hafez. Although many say they do not believe in Hafez's fortune-telling, in most Iranian homes, Yalda night ultimately involves a wish and a hope in a moment and a verse from Hafez. Now, even if we don’t read the verses correctly: 'The beloved has gone, and the heartbroken have not been informed / The memory of the city companion and travel friend was not remembered / Either my fortune left the way of kindness / Or he did not pass on the main road of the path...' In the one or two weeks leading up to Yalda, the organization of inspections has also increased its missions and launched Yalda inspection patrols. This organization has asked citizens to report inflation and controversial prices to system 124. This year, like thousands of years ago, Yalda is the longest night in the world, and although Iran has not yet succeeded in registering Yalda in UNESCO's intangible heritage list, a large part of Iranians celebrate Yalda not only in Iran but wherever they are. It is surprising that after this longest dark night of the year, the light of day increases more each day, and the end of the dark night becomes whiter.