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Yalda Night
On the longest night Iranians stay up with pomegranates, watermelon, nuts and the poems of Hafez.
What is eaten for Yalda Night
Yalda is the night of the winter solstice, kept in Iran and its neighbours since ancient times. Families gather at the home of the eldest and stay awake late to see out the longest night. The table holds red fruit, whose colour stands for the dawn: pomegranates, and watermelon saved from summer. Eating watermelon on this night is said to protect against the cold. There are bowls of mixed nuts and dried fruit, and tea. Poems of Hafez are read aloud and used to tell fortunes.
Also part of it, and being written: Pomegranate (Red for the dawn that follows the longest night.), Watermelon (Saved from summer and eaten to keep off the cold.), Mixed nuts (Mixed nuts and dried fruit passed round all night.).
More dishes made for Yalda Night
Written by the Thali desk with AI assistance. Background: "Yalda Night" on Wikipedia. Customs differ from family to family and place to place. If this is your tradition and we have it wrong, tell us.