The Iranian way to celebrate the winter solstice
Shoppers inspect pomegranates, a main element of Yalda Night, in a fruit shop in northern Tehran, Iran, Dec. 21, 2019. Every Dec. 21, Iranians commemorate the ancient and auspicious winter solstice, also known as Yalda Night, which is regarded as a felicitous farewell to fall.
Shab-e Yalda is the Iranian celebration of the winter solstice when families gather to eat, dance, sing and recite poetry. It’s all about honoring the slow return of daylight as the shortest day of the year comes to an end. Like any good celebration, food plays a vital role. And one of the ways Russia exerts its power across continents is through mercenaries known as the Wagner Group, which has strong ties with the Russian military. Last week, the European Union sanctioned the organization, accusing it of “serious human rights abuses.” Plus, in a forest outside of Norway, 1,000 spruce trees planted in 2014 are quietly growing — for a “future library.”
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