Yalda

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In this heartfelt episode, co-hosts Bita and Bita share 3 ways to celebrate the Persian Winter Festival this year, Shabe Yalda, including 1. How to set it up (the sofreh or special table setting), 2. What to do (traditions and our modern takes), and of course, 3. what to eat (traditionally and what they plan to eat)!</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Before jumping into the 3 ways to celebrate ShabeYalda, what exactly is it and when is it celebrated?</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">What is Yalda?: A winter solstice festival, falling on the longest/darkest night of the year, the turning of the seasons from fall to winter</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">When is it?: Typically falls on either Dec 20th and 21st - this year the winter solstice is the morning of the 21st where we are in western hemisphere</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ok, now let’s get into how to celebrate this very historical and symbolic occasion, the Persian winter solstice festival!</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">How does one celebrate Yalda?: A family gathering to set a spread or special table setting, to gather with family, eat a delicious meal, drink (mostly tea!), read and recite poetry, and stay up late! Stay up ward off evil and to welcome light and love in the days following and leading up to the next season, spring!</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A song! </span> <a href= "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leila_Forouhar"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Leila Fourohar</span></a><span style= "font-weight: 400;">, famous Iranian pop and classical singer. The title of the song is: Madar Bozorgh (which means Grandmother) </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In the song Leila sings about Yalda….spend time with elders, stay up late telling stories, learning life lessons ….</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The set up:</span></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;" a