Tonight, we celebrate the longest night of the year, 'Shabe Yalda,' which means ‘rebirth’ (of the sun). We celebrate the triumph of light over darkness. It is an ancient festive ceremony that has been celebrated mostly in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Kurdistan, Azerbaijan and many more countries for centuries. Traditionally, Yalda Night is celebrated with family and friends, sharing drinks and food, such as (dried) fruits and nuts. Pomegranate and watermelon are iconic for this celebration. The ancient myth is that eating watermelon on this night creates immunity to the cold winter ahead. During this night people traditionally read poems from the divan Hafiz and interpret these to predict the future and understand the present. There is a saying in Farsi that goes something like this: 'I wish you a long and happy life like Shabe Yalda, sweet as watermelon and fruitful as pomegranates' Happy Yalda Night. Ps Merry Christmas Music: @Zamzama with Farah @Ali Khan #shabeyalda #yaldanight #havis #afghanistan #iran #azerbaijan #tajikistan #yalda #pomegranates