UNESCO puts Yalda Night on its 'Cultural Heritage' list
Yusef Jalali
Press TV, Tehran
Iranians have for 3 millennia stayed up on the longest, darkest and coldest night of the year, marking the occasion with beautiful long-held traditions; and now Yalda Night is officially registered by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, UNESCO, as a cultural heritage shared by Iran and Afghanistan.
Yalda is the last night of the fall in the Persian calendar and the longest night of the year in the northern hemisphere.
To celebrate the occasion, Iranians get together in groups of relatives or friends to cheer and chatter, eat fruits and nuts and recite poems until dawn.
Yalda means birth in Persian. In ancient mythology, it is believed that the Persian god of light and truth was born the morning after the longest night of the year to rid the world of darkness and wash away unpleasant experiences.
The tradition is marked in Iran and across the Persian-speaking communities in several other countries, including Tajikistan and Afghanistan.
Iranians have been celebrating Yalda Night for centuries as a reminder that every minute counts to share their moments with their loved ones.
And this beautiful message is one reason why the ancient tradition has now been added to the UNESCO list of cultural heritage.
Iran eases the rules for exporting hand-woven carpets
Intl. Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women: A stark reminder of Gaza women
85% of Yemeni displaced people face daily hunger crisis
Israeli war criminals 'not welcome', US city says after ICC ruling
US vetoing of Gaza ceasefire resolution ‘disgraceful’: Iran’s UN envoy
VIDEO | IAEA adopts anti-Iran resolution tabled by E3
VIDEO | Iran's president urges Pope to help end Israel's onslaught in Gaza
Iran's senior legal official: ICC arrest warrant for Netanyahu ‘great victory'
Nov. 21: ‘Axis of Resistance’ operations against Israeli occupation
VIDEO | Israeli forces storm West Bank’s Jenin again, target civilians
Iran activates advanced centrifuges after IAEA's 'unjust' resolution
PressTV NEWSLETTER
now
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
