Depending
on where you live in the world, the Solstice is today or tomorrow.
This is the shortest day and longest night of the year in the
Northern Hemisphere, and of course the longest day and shortest night
of the year in the Southern Hemisphere. The days have been getting
shorter and shorter in the Northern Hemisphere ever since late June,
but now they will start getting longer and longer again!
Yalda
is the Persian (Iranian) Winter
Solstice Celebration. It is a social occasion when family and close
friends get together. Fresh fruit is traditionally served, including
watermelon, pomegranate, nuts and dried fruit.
Food
is commonly placed on a korsi,
which is like a very short table covered by a wool blanket. People
sit around the korsi
and put their legs under the blanket. Inside the korsi
is a heater—so this seating arrangement sounds nice and
toasty-warm. Families stay up late eating, talking, reading poems
aloud, and telling stories or jokes. In the past, people would
decorate their houses and yards with candles, and they would give
presents of dried fruits and nuts to friends and family, wrapped up
in bits of parchment and tied with ribbon, like a little party favor.
But apparently the customs of burning candles and giving gifts on
Yalda have been dying
out.
 |
| This Yalda table setting looks pretty yummy. You know what I see along with the watermelon, pomegranate, and nuts? I see cotton candy! |
To
learn more about Winter Solstice, click here.
A
game that comes from the Ancient Persian culture is Backgammon. Play
online here. If you need help with the rules, check out Backgammon Galore.
Also
on this date...
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