happy yalda night

چنین بود تا بود گردان سپهر

گهی پر ز درد و گهی پر ز مهر

تو گر باهشی مشمر او را به دوست

کجا دست یابد بدردت پوست

شب اورمزد آمد و ماه دی

ز گفتن بیاسای و بردار می

کنون کار دیهیم بهرام ساز

که در پادشاهی نماند دراز

(شاهنامه فردوسی)

Shab-e Yalda ("Yalda night" Persian: شب یلدا‎) or Shab-e Chelleh ("night of forty", Persian: شب چله‎) is a Persian[1] festival celebrated on the "longest and darkest night of the year," :

The longest and darkest night of the year is a time when friends and family gather together to eat, drink and read poetry (especially Hafez) until well after midnight. Fruits and nuts are eaten and pomegranates and watermelons are particularly significant. The red color in these fruits symbolizes the crimson hues of dawn and glow of life. The poems of Divan-e Hafez, which can be found in the bookcases of most Iranian families, are read or recited on various occasions such as this festival and Nowruz. (by wikipedia)