LIVE WOMEN’S PROGRAM CELEBRATES FARSI FESTIVITY
Yaldā night, a traditional Iranian festival, marks the end of the autumn for Persians. They gather together with family and extended relatives to share the last fruits of the season and stay awake through the longest night of the year. With the first rays of the sun, they will then welcome the start of winter.
“Yaldā is one of the most celebrated traditional events in Iran. Every year, on 21 December, Iranians celebrate the arrival of winter, the renewal of the sun, and the victory of light over darkness,” says Programming Assistant Nazanin Ashari.
TRADITIONS TODAY
The feast falls on the same night as the SAT-7 PARS live women’s show Insiders. The presenters will dedicate time to discuss the origins and the traditions connected to the celebration. Decorated with pomegranate, watermelon, nuts, and dried fruit, the set will reflect the traditional and festive atmosphere in Iran.
“As Insiders is a show focused on day-to-day happenings in Iran, it is imperative that we dedicated this episode to Yaldā. It is such an ancient tradition and is deeply rooted in Persian culture,” explains Producer Moe Pooladfar.
THROUGH THE LONGEST NIGHT
“We celebrate Yaldā together to mark the beginning of winter. However, the symbolism of the rising of the sun, even after the longest of nights, gives us a reason to celebrate hope and love: we want to share that hope with our viewers.”
In this same way, Jesus has triumphed over darkness for us, to give us hope and a future. In John 8:12, Jesus says:
“I am the light of the world, whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
We pray that, as the sun breaks through after the longest night, His light will shine a new hope into the lives of our viewers.