Yalda 2023; Creating Identity through Traditions New and Old

Join us for an extraordinary journey into the heart of Persian culture as we celebrate Yalda, the longest and darkest night of the year. Listen in as we, your hosts Bita and Beata, explore the traditions of this beloved holiday. From staying up late, enjoying music and poetry, to indulging in delectable food, we bring you an intimate look into how Yalda Night is celebrated, also called Shabeh Yalda. Be prepared for personal stories, the discovery of old pre-revolution records, and enchanting poetry and music.    Venture further into Yalda Night's customs by discussing the holiday's food and drink. Learn about the significance of the traditional foods associated with Yalda, including pomegranates, watermelon, and winter dishes from Persian cuisine. We also reveal fun recipes for festive drinks - a pomegranate spritz and a Persian mulled wine tea.    We round off our Yalda Night episode by revealing our holiday and New Year plans and reflections on the podcast and press achievements from 2023.    So, gather your loved ones, prepare tea and sweets, and join us as we journey through Yalda Night. We wish you a happy Yalda season and a fantastic start to the new year. Thank you for joining us, and we look forward to seeing you next time.   Episodes mentioned: Episode 128: Setting Sofreh Episode 114: Yalda Winter Solstice Episode 63: Yalda   References: Fountain of Light, original score piano by Firooz Mohtadi   All Modern Persian Food podcast episodes can be found at Episodes   Sign up for the email newsletter here!   Check us out on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube   Subscribe to the Modern Persian Food podcast on your favorite podcast player, and share this episode with a friend.   Opening and closing music composed by Amir Etemadzadeh, www.amirschoolofmusic.com   Podcast production by Alvarez Audio