Mazandaran is a province of Iran located in the north of Iran surrounded by Alborz Mountains in the south and the Caspian Sea from the north.
In this trip our students celebrated Persian Yalda also known as Shab-e Cheleh, roughly translated “Birth”; this is a night where ancient Persians celebrated the triumph of good over evil. In Mithraissm this night is the night of the birth of Mithra, Persian angel of light and truth. Yalda is usually celebrated on December 21; on this night Persian families gather together and celebrate togetherness while waiting for the dawn of the sun.
Yalda is a joyous, significant event for Iranian people. In Zoroastrian and ancient Iranian traditions, the winter solstice included customs intended to protect people from misfortune. Foods common to eat at a Yalda celebration include watermelon, pomegranate, nuts, and dried fruit.
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