Iranian community observes Yalda, celebration of the winter solstice

As people all over the world celebrate the holidays, the Iranian community observes Yalda, a Persian celebration of the winter solstice.

On Yalda night, the longest night of the year, around 200 people gathered at the former Celebrations Dinner Theatre in Winnipeg Friday for an evening of dance, music, and food.

“It’s a symbol of triumphing over darkness, because after the longest night of the year, it is light that overcomes darkness,” said Arian Arianpour, president of the Iranian Community of Manitoba.

Seventeen-year-old Bahar Jafari Jozani invited a friend to celebrate Yalda with the community and partake in Iranian traditions, like reading works from a famous Iranian poet.

“You hang around with people that you really care about, you love, like family (and) friends,” Jozani said. “You’ll either eat fruit with your family, moreso watermelon or even pomegranates, to celebrate life and coming of harvest.”

Nafiseh Rezaii, a member of the community, says in ancient times, Iranians celebrated in similar ways.

“It’s always about waiting for the good thing to come,” Rezaii said. “So they were just waiting the longest night, keeping all the lights of the houses turned on, gathering together, celebrating, eating and being together for the darkness to go away and for the … sun to rise.”

Arianpour says the occasion has special importance this year, as Iranians have been dealing with one of the most ruthless regimes in history. As people celebrate, they are thinking of all their loved ones lost back home.

“The Iranian culture is a happy culture, but we use such occasions to also remember those we have lost,” Arianpour said. “It is … an event in which togetherness is valued. Your families and friends come together. But especially after the Woman, Life, Freedom revolution, even the most cultural happenings in Iran have been impacted by the thirst for freedom.”

Arianpour says each year, the community hopes that it will be the last year that Yalda is celebrated under the rule of those who “oppose Yalda and other elements of the Iranian culture.”

“People in Iran have two different lives,” he said. “One is ‘underground,’ where you will see millions of parties and celebrations on Yalda night. And there is an ‘official’ life where you have laws of the Islamic Republic.”

Jozani says she rarely sees or hears any news from Iran, but it’s still important to remember many are facing persecution from the country’s government on a daily basis.

“We must still fight for the freedom of the women in Iran,” Jozani said. “Keep in mind the memories of everyone we have lost and hope for the future.”

Arianpour says while they acknowledge the fact that they are living a free life here in Canada, they will do everything they can to support those in Iran.

“People who are fighting with their bare hands to topple down a regime that’s been disrupting not only their lives, but the lives of many other people in the region and all over the world,” she said.