A traditional Yalda Night spread (Image: Press TV)

Zoroastrian communities across the world, as well as most Iranians, are preparing to celebrate Yalda Night, the northern hemisphere’s longest night of the year.

Today is the December solstice, known as the summer solstice, or the longest day of the year in the southern hemisphere. Conversely, today is the shortest day of the year (and therefore tonight is the longest night) in the northern hemisphere.

Zoroastrians in India and Pakistan are known as ‘Parsis’ or ‘Iranis’, and are concentrated in the megacities of Mumbai and Karachi. They will be marking the night with a traditional feast, heavy with seasonal fruit.

Marking the start of winter in the Persian calendar, Yalda Night is also a major event in the Zoroastrian communities of Melbourne and Sydney, where it occurs int eh southern summer.

The biggest celebrations will of course be in Iran, where despite not being a national holiday, nearly the whole country marks the occasion with family and friends. Although its roots lie in Zoroastrian tradition, Yalda Night continues to be celebrated as a cultural event by the majority Muslim nation.

From UrbanDuniya, we wish all of our readers a very joyous Yalda Night!