Night of Pomegranates and Memories
In the silence of the longest night of the year,
we open the ruby seeds of memory.
Each one is a promise kept,
and each sweetness a whisper of hope.
Come sit close…
let the stories warm the winter air.
For even in the deepest breath of cold,
light gathers in small moments,
shining within us —
like the stars of Yalda.

The verses of 14th-century Persian poet Hafez Shirazi are treasured for their seamless weaving of love, mysticism, and wisdom, offering quiet guidance on the winter solstice, when darkness reaches its deepest point. This is when Persians gather to celebrate Yalda Night (Shab-e Yalda), a centuries-old ritual that transforms the longest night into an act of togetherness and joy. Through Faal-e-Hafez (reading Hafez’s poetry for guidance) and the ritual offering of pomegranates, watermelon and nuts — symbols of life, fertility and abundance — Yalda becomes a gentle reminder that hope, endurance and light ultimately prevail.