About Yalda Night (Shab-e Yalda)
Yalda Night — Shab-e Yalda or Shab-e Chelleh — is the ancient Persian celebration of the winter solstice, the longest and darkest night of the year. Marking the symbolic victory of light over darkness, it is one of the oldest festivals still observed in Iran and is also celebrated in Afghanistan, Tajikistan and across the wider Persian cultural world. UNESCO has inscribed Yalda among its lists of intangible cultural heritage.
Families gather through the night at the home of grandparents or elders, staying awake until dawn over fruit, nuts and conversation. Red foods take pride of place — pomegranate and watermelon, whose colour evokes the warmth of life and the glow of dawn — alongside dried fruit and nuts. A cherished tradition is fal-e Hafez, opening the collected poems of the 14th-century poet Hafez at random and reading the verse as a fortune for the year ahead.
Yalda falls on the night of the winter solstice, around December 21 (and December 20 in some years), so the counter above tracks the next one automatically. Whether you are planning a gathering or simply marking the turn of the year toward longer days, add the Yalda Night countdown to your own page and count down to the longest night.
Upcoming dates
| 2026 | Monday, December 21, 2026next |
| 2027 | Tuesday, December 21, 2027 |
| 2028 | Wednesday, December 20, 2028 |
| 2029 | Thursday, December 20, 2029 |
FAQ
When is Yalda Night?
Yalda Night falls on the winter solstice, the longest night of the year — around December 21, and December 20 in some years. The counter above shows the exact time remaining.
Why is Yalda Night celebrated?
It marks the winter solstice and the symbolic triumph of light over darkness; from this night on, the days slowly grow longer again.
How is Yalda Night celebrated?
Families stay awake through the night eating pomegranate, watermelon and nuts, telling stories and reading the poems of Hafez for good fortune.
What does Yalda mean?
Yalda means "birth" and refers to the rebirth of the sun after the longest night; it is also called Shab-e Chelleh, the night beginning the forty-day depth of winter.