Waiting excitedly behind the door of my grandmother’s house, each family member wears a piece of red clothing. The door opens to the warm, loud gathering. We’re greeted with kisses and hugs, our faces still ice-cold from the winter chill outside. Inside, relatives with red-stained hands peel mountains of pomegranates, snacks are piled high on…
Yalda Night, or Shab-e Yalda, is a culturally rich celebration in Iran, steeped in historical and symbolic significance. For millennia, Iranians have come together on this longest night of the year, the eve of winter solstice, to honor the occasion with diverse rituals and customs across different regions. It serves as a time for the…