General

For Iranians around the world, the winter solstice is not just the longest night of the year, it is also the time to commemorate the triumph of Mithra, the Sun God, over darkness in an ancient Persian celebration known as Shab-e-Yalda. The celebration, which translates to “Night of Birth” and is celebrated on the eve of the first day of Winter (21-22 December), has come to symbolise many things. Not only has it become a significant cultural celebration, but it is part of Iranian tradition “where evil will run havoc on the longest night of the year,” according to Touraj Daryaee, a professor of Iranian studies. “So people gather to be together until evil is gone… it's an old idea