In Ashgabat, the Embassy of Iran in Turkmenistan celebrated the ancient Persian holiday “Shb-e Yaldi” (Yaldi’s night) a symbolic meeting of winter, on the night of the Winter solstice.
The event was held at the cultural center of the Embassy of the Iranian Republic, which was attended by Ambassador of Iran to Turkmenistan Gholam Abbas Arbab Hales, Adviser on Cultural Issues of Iran in Turkmenistan Navid Rasuli, Head of the UNICEF representative office in Turkmenistan Mohammad Fayazi, as well as embassy staff, Iranians living in Turkmenistan, media representatives and other guests.
During the event in the cultural center of the Embassy of the Iranian Republic in Ashgabat was held a theatrical performance staged by the students of the center in Farsi, as well as lyrical poems of Hafiza were performed.
According to the Iranian diplomat, the history of the holiday "Shab-e Yalda" goes back thousands of years. The ancients noticed that at certain times of the year, some days become very long or short. So there was a belief that light is a symbol of goodness and is in constant struggle and confrontation with darkness.
Arbab Hales also noted that every Iranian should consider it his duty to preserve this holiday as a cultural feature of Iran, and pass it on from generation to generation.
As per the words of Navid Rasuli, on the holiday “Shab-e Yalda” all relatives gather in the house of the eldest family member, give each other gifts, as for the New Year. The older family members are handed a large watermelon, which is cut into slices and treated to relatives.
Rasuli also noted that "Chelle Night" or "Shab-e Yalda" is a sign of kindness and friendship.
Let’s note in 2008, “Shab-e Yalda” was officially included in the list of national treasures of Iran.