ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Yaldā Night

Yaldā night is a special night that happens in Iran, Afghanistan, and some other countries. It is celebrated on the longest night of the year, which usually happens on December 20th or 21st.

On this night, people gather together with their families and friends to eat special foods, tell stories, and sing. One of the most important foods that people eat is called shab-e yalda fruits. They are different kinds of fruits like pomegranates, melons, and watermelons. People believe that eating these fruits brings them good luck and protects them from illnesses.

Also, people usually read poems from a famous poet called Hafez, who lived a long time ago. They believe that Hafez's poems have magical powers and can tell the future. They hold a book of his poems and randomly open it to a page, and the lines that they read are supposed to tell them something about their future.

On Yaldā night, people stay up all night long since it is the longest night of the year. They believe that staying up late will bring them good luck and blessings. They also light candles and sit around it to symbolize the defeat of darkness by light.

In summary, Yaldā night is a special night where people celebrate the longest night of the year by gathering with their family and friends, eating special foods, reading poems, and staying up late. It is all about bringing good luck, happiness, and light to their lives.