Tehran in Winter

[Cyrus]

[Bahraini Spirit]

Nice pics, I saw many on Tehran24, it's cool that the temperature is like -20 C in winter.

[Gilgamesh]

[blackforest]

[space_invader]

pic with the clock: cool

[Gilgamesh]

Tochal mountains, North Tehran:













Some streets









Downtown Park...

[Gilgamesh]

Shemiranat:

[Krzyżak]

Beautiful country...
I heard, that snow falls in iran but I did not know, that that great.

[Krzyżak]

Beautiful country...
I heard, that snow falls in Iran but I did not know, that that great.

[UnitedPakistan]

Iran is so similar to Pakistan it looks like Islamabad when it snows

[SEED]

do Iranian celebrate christmas? (hope u guys dont misunderstand me 'k.. ma question hav nothin to do wit religion so pls forgive me if i said anything wrong..) u know exchange present thingz like that.. just for the fun of it..

[Gilgamesh]

Originally Posted by SEED

do Iranian celebrate christmas? (hope u guys dont misunderstand me 'k.. ma question hav nothin to do wit religion so pls forgive me if i said anything wrong..) u know exchange present thingz like that.. just for the fun of it..

Well, no not really we don't celebrate Christmas like that, although Malls often have Christmas decors... Anyway on December 22th Iranians celebrate an ancient Iranian feast called "Yalda", that has very similar rituals to christmas and it's belived that it has greatly influenced on the christmas celebrations.

Anyway, Here some Tehran malls on christmas:

[SEED]

oh thx for ur information and pics! soo Iranians celebrate xmaz in a different way eh? i mean Zoroastrian Iranian feast.. sounds interestin wats the traditional food Iranian eat on that day? not turkey rite? and wat d' people do?

[ZOHAR]

so wonderful pics!!!!!!!
thanx!

do u celebrate cristmas???/

[slick_P]

[slick_P]

Mount Damavand

[slick_P]

Skiing Photos

[Gilgamesh]

Originally Posted by SEED

oh thx for ur information and pics! soo Iranians celebrate xmaz in a different way eh? i mean Zoroastrian Iranian feast.. sounds interestin wats the traditional food Iranian eat on that day? not turkey rite? and wat d' people do?

Hehe You're welcome...

I've summed up some info, i hope it's not to long or booring:

Shab-e Yalda (The Night of Yalda) is the longest night of the year.
It's traditionally belived that at the end of this night, which is the longest day of the year, is evil. On this day darkness (Evil) is defeated by light (Good) allowing the days to become longer.

This celebration comes at the beginning of the Iranian month of Dey, which was also the name of the pre-Zoroastrian Iranian creator god (deity). Later he became known as the god of light, from where the English word “day” has its roots.

The birth of the sun and beginning of the winter has become the beginning of the year and source of celebration in many cultures and traditions. Early Christians related this very ancient Persian celebration to Mithra, goddess of light, and linked it to Christ's birthday. Today, the date for Christmas is slightly off from Yalda, but they are celebrated in many similar ways, staying up all night, singing and dancing, gatherings with family and friends, lighting candles, and eating special foods.


Yalda is an occasion for families too get together. They gather at the house of the eldest member of the family. Traditionally familes used to sit together around a korsi (a low, square table covered with a thick blanket hanging over the table on all sides. A container with hot coals is placed under the table to keep everyone warm.) all night, but nowday a sofa is more common .

They eat dishes of fruits, nuts, and sweets under the korsi, and chat, tell jokes and stories, sing and recite poetry.

Some of the fruits that are served on Yalda Night are watermelons, honeydew melons, grapes, pomegranates, apples, and cucumbers.
Also, a mix of different types of nuts, seeds and dried fruit is served on Yalda. This mixture is called Ajil in the Persian language and includes almonds, pistachio nuts, hazelnuts, walnuts, watermelon and pumpkin seeds, raisins, dried figs and dried white berries.

Long into the Yalda Night, the families keep the fire under the korsi burning and the burn candles to help the sun in its battle against darkness and its rebirth in the morning.

One of the traditions of Yalda is reciting the poetry by Hafez, the 14th century Iranian poet. Most of the elements of Yalda festivities have roots from thousands of years ago; however, the recitation of Hafez poems has been added in recent centuries. Each member of the family makes a wish and randomly opens the book of Hafez to one of its pages and usually the eldest member of the family recites the poem on that page. What is expressed in that poem is believed to be the interpretation of the wisher’s wish and whether and how it will come true. This tradition is called fal-e Hafez.

Ancient Iranians tied colored fabrics around the branches of a cypress tree making wishes (Sounds familiar, doesnt it? ), this is still practiced in some remote villages in Iran.

The 13th century Iranian poet Sa’di wrote in his Book: “The true morning will not come until the Yalda Night is gone.”

After the Islamic revolution this celebration, like all other Iranian holidays was branded "pagan" and was denounced, but now it's having a big comeback.


Preparing for Yalda:



Pomegranates:


Watermelons:


Mixes of different types of nuts, seeds and dried fruit:









And this one might be alittle gross

[Gilgamesh]

Slick_P nice pix, but Damavand isnt in Tehran city

[Gilgamesh]

Originally Posted by ZOHAR

do u celebrate cristmas???/

hehe...well read post 12