As winter arrives in the Northern Hemisphere, the Afghan diaspora prepared for one of their most cherished traditions—Yalda Night. Known as the longest and darkest night of the year, Yalda falls on the final evening of the Persian month of Azar, marking the winter solstice.
In Afghan culture, this night embodies much more than just a seasonal change; it celebrates light triumphing over darkness, warmth over cold, and togetherness over solitude. Families and friends gather to share stories, poetry, and traditional foods, creating an evening rich with cultural warmth and spiritual renewal.
Yalda Night (Shabe Yalda in Persian), celebrated on December 21, is an ancient Persian festival honouring the winter solstice. Rooted in Zoroastrian traditions, this night symbolizes togetherness, poetry, and hope as Afghans worldwide welcome the symbolic victory of light over darkness.
This festive observance is cherished not only by Afghans but also in the countries influenced by Persian culture, including Iran, Azerbaijan and Tajikistan.
Since it launched in 1999, the Afghanistan and Central Asian Association (ACAA) has been renowned for hosting events that encourage celebration through unity, social cohesion and revelry. Our Shabe Yalda event, which took place on the evening of Friday, the 20th of December in Ferdowsi Hall at our centre in Feltham, was no exception.
In true fashion of the ACAA, where support and inclusivity for women are one of the central aims of the organisation, the event, which was women-only, provided a warm and welcoming atmosphere.The night proved to be a resounding success; a deluge of festivities honoured each aspect of the traditional night through food, music and familial connections.
Our attendees were given a warm welcome to the night by ACAA Founder and Director Dr. Nooralhaq Nasimi MBE, who gave us a speech that invited us to celebrate a night to remember.
Those who attended dressed to impress, donning extravagant traditional wear from Afghanistan and Central Asia, beautiful dresses and gowns decorated in wide arrays of colours, patterns, intricate embroidery and small mirrors sewn onto the fabric with that jewellery that shone and glistened against the vibrant lights.
Ferdowsi Hall was elaborately decorated with an array of traditional foods and drinks defining Yalda Night, with tables lavishly spread with seasonal fruits, nuts, and a variety of sweets. Pomegranates, with their ruby-red seeds, and watermelons, are particularly significant, symbolising the promise of a bountiful year ahead.
Our guests relished treats like ‘ajil’ (mixed nuts) while sipping on ‘Kahwah’ (Persian green tea infused with local saffron, cinnamon, and cardamom) toasting health and happiness and perusing our array of dress stalls.
Family gatherings are central to Yalda Night. The night buzzed with the warmth of relatives reuniting to spend the longest night together. This tradition underscores the importance of kinship and shared moments.
As the night progressed, family members exchanged stories, shared in beautiful moments of jubilation and laughter. Joyous women gave themselves to the roar of the music and danced without inhibition, their dresses whirling and swirled, jewellery jangling in time to the music. The space welcomed an atmosphere to reinforce bonds and create memories that last beyond the season.
The night would hardly have been complete without finalising the celebration in a heart-warming meal for our dedicated attendees. A decadent spread was put on display, boasting traditional dishes of kabli pulao, kufteh stew, Afghan boran banjan and chicken ghorma and of course the staple naan-e-Afghan, finalised with Afghan Salata.
Traditionally staying awake throughout the night is another key aspect of Yalda. This practice represents the triumph over darkness, as the days start getting longer post-solstice. To symbolise this victory, many light candles or small fires, echoing the warmth and vitality of life.
As the night slowly came to a close, our attendees were given a hearty goodbye and knew the night would be one to remember.
Thank you to everyone who attended our Yalda Night. We appreciate the opportunity to celebrate these occasions with the community.
By Namra Tahir