first thing is first: something about Shabe yalda. quite informative. highly recommended!
SHAB E CHELEH (YALDA FESTIVAL)
Yalda, a Syriac word imported into the Persian language by the Syriac
Christians means birth (tavalud and melaad are from the same origin).
It is a relatively recent arrival and it is refereed to the "Shab e
Cheleh Festival", a celebration of Winter Solstice on December 21st.
Forty days before the next major Persian festival "Jashn e Sadeh";
this night 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. For instance, Egyptians, four thousand
years ago celebrated the rebirth of the sun at this time of the year.
They set the length of the festival at 12 days, to reflect the 12
divisions in their sun calendar. They decorated with greenery, using
palms with 12 shoots as a symbol of the completed year, since a palm
was thought to put forth a shoot each month.
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 Azar is the
longest night of the year, when the forces of Ahriman are assumed to
be at the peak of their strength. While the next day, the first day of
the month "Day" known as "khoram rooz" or "khore rooz" (the day of
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
Sun over the darkness. The occasion was celebrated in the festival of
"Daygan" dedicated to Ahura Mazda, on the first day of the month
"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 were honored and prayers performed to ensure the total victory
of sun that was essential for the protection of winter crops. There
would be prayers to Mithra (Mehr) and feasts in his honor, 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, specially those with no offspring had the
hope to be blessed with children if performed all rites on this
occasion.
One of the themes of the festival was the temporary subversion of
order. Masters and servants reversed roles. The king dressed in white
would change place with ordinary people. A mock king was crowned and
masquerades spilled into the streets. As the old year died, rules of
ordinary living were relaxed. This tradition persisted till Sassanian
period, and is mentioned by Biruni and others in their recordings of
pre-Islamic rituals and festivals. Its’ origin goes back to the
Babylonian New Year celebration. These people believed the first
creation was order that came out of chaos. To appreciate and celebrate
the first creation they had a festival and all roles were reversed.
Disorder and chaos ruled for a day and eventually order was restored
and succeeded at the end of the festival.
The Egyptian and Persian traditions merged in ancient Rome, in a
festival 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 forgotten, wars would be 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.
Another related Roman festival celebrated at the same time was
dedicated to Sol Invictus ("the invincible sun"). Originally a Syrian
deity, this cult was imported by Emperor Heliogabalus into Rome and
Sol was made god of the state. With the spread of Christianity,
Christmas celebration became the most important Christian festival. In
the third century various dates, from December to April, were
celebrated by Christians as Christmas. January 6 was the most favored
day because it was thought to be Jesus' Baptismal day (in the Greek
Orthodox Church this continues to be the day to celebrate Christmas).
In year 350, December 25 was adopted in Rome and gradually almost the
entire Christian Church agreed to that date, which coincided, with
Winter Solstice and the festivals, Sol Invicta and Saturnalia. Many of
the rituals and traditions of the pagan festivals were incorporated
into the Christmas celebration and are still observed today.
It is not clear when and how the world "Yalda"; entered the Persian
language. The massive persecution of the early Christians in Rome
brought many Christian refugees into the Sassanin 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.
The Iranian Jews, who are amongst the oldest inhabitants of the
country, in addition to "Shab e Cheleh", also celebrate the festival
of "Illanout" (tree festival) at around the same time. Their
celebration of Illanout is very similar to Shab e Cheleh celebration.
Candles are lit; all varieties of dried and fresh winter fruits will
have to be present. Special meals are prepared and prayers are
performed. There are also very similar festivals in many parts of
Southern Russia that are identical to "Shab e Cheleh" festival with
local variations. Sweet breads are baked in shape of humans and
animals. Bon fires are made; dances are performed that resemble crop
harvesting. Comparison and detailed studies of all these celebrations
no doubt will shed more light on the forgotten aspects of this
wonderful and ancient festival, where merriment was the main theme of
the festival.
Happy Shab e Cheleh.
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