The winter solstice,1st of Dey month in Persian calendar ( 21th or 22nd December) is the first night of winter, the longest night of the year after the shortest day of the year when the darkness spreads on the earth for the longest time and it is called "Shab-e Yalda or Chelleh" (Yalda or Chelleh night).
This night was always the source of inspiration for Iranian artists and poets and in the lyrical literature there are lots of samples about the darkness of "Shab-e Yalda", resembling to very black hair of the beloved one. The history of the festival even backs to 7000 years ago. Believing in brightness respecting progressed then in Mythraism religion (way) probably 5500 years ago, Zorastrians added some more customs to it 3000 years ago and after Islamic period Persians are still celebrating this very ancient festival.
Although nobody denies each culture has their own local mythology and cultural elements, there are loads of historical and mythological researches which give documents about Mythraistic customs such as Yalda eve and their holy weekend on Sundays (the day of sun) and its influence on Christianity and especially Christmas custom for whom want to do a detailed and boring research!
It is interesting by itself that how very ancient Iranian’s astronomers could find a scale to divide seasons, find the longest night and make a solar Persian calendar. The ceremony of Yalda night is to honor of knowledge and brightness which will arrive the day after the longest darkness of the year. That is why the family members gather and celebrate it together and not sleeping during the long night. Some of the customs of Yalda night is enchasing the streets, eating dried fruits, winterish vegetables, watermelon, pomegranate, telling the fortunes, reading lyrics of Hafez (Iranian mystic poet 1310 CE) and epics of great Ferdowsi (Iranian poet 935 CE) from The King-book (Shah nameh) and waiting for the first rays of the sunrise, when the day and wisdom conquers the darkness and ignorance.
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