IRANIANS CELEBRATED YALDA, THE BIRTH OF GOD SUN
PARIS 21 Dec. (IPS) Iranians of all origins, faiths, and ethnics, -- as well as many people in neighbouring countries in Central Asia—celebrated Friday "Yalda Night", the longest night of the year, which according to Iranian mythology, gave birth to sun, one of the sources of Mithraism.
Iranians believe that "Yalda" that falls on 21 of December is also the birthday of Jesus, since the two dates are three days away of each other only.
According to historians, Iranians who had travelled to Europe during the reign of Parthian dynasty and converting to Christianity, celebrated the birth of Christ, which was not exactly known, on the birthday of Mehr, or Mithra.
"Mithraism was the worship of Mithra, the Iranian god of the sun, justice, contract and war in pre-Zoroastrian Iran, known as Mithras in the Roman Empire during the second and third centuries", according to Encyclopaedia Britannica, that also points to "obvious similarities between Mithraism and Christianity".
"Though the custom of Mehr comes from Iran/An old heritage from our ancestors/ But it developed in Europe/ Where it stayed for years/ Mixed with Christianity/ The official religion of Rome and Greece/ Left its marks", wrote Ms. Tooran Shahriari (Bahrami) in a poem published Friday in the London-based international edition of "Etela’at" newspaper, explaining the origins of "Yalda".
The worship of sun is also the source of many tales in Iranian mythology that includes the celebration of Yalda Night.
The celebration and festivities during that night keeps the Iranians awake and alert until sun rise in order to "help mother night giving birth to her child, the sun", is accompanied with a profusion of meals, dancing and singing.
The sun being red, most of the fruits served during the Yalda Night must be of this coloration, hence watermelon and pomegranate, tow of the red fruits found in the markets at this time of the year.
"At dawn and on sun set, where and when night and day, light and darkness meet, the colour of sky is red", goes an Iranian proverb, explaining why the colour red dominates the festivities, that also marks the last day of autumn and the beginning of winter season.
God Sun being in the form of a circle, hence the bridals ring. Being red, hence the colour of both Father Christmas, and the Popes robe, according to the tales.
"In birth, sun and Jesus are close to each other", says one Iranian tale of Yalda that is celebrated in various forms and traditions in different parts of Iran, some of them are similar to the Halloween, like the tradition of distributing sweet meat to people who call on them or that of serving turkey in certain provinces. ENDS YALDA NIGHT 211201