Happy Winter Solstice

In honor of the winter solstice, I built a bonfire (prompt is in the following poem). It is the longest night of the year, but tomorrow the days gradually lengthen for the next six months. I am ok with winter, in fact with the heat of summer these days, I prefer winter.

A teacher friend of mine emailed his staff today, and it was forwarded to me. It was their last school day before their winter break. Here was the conclusion of his message, and a fitting poem.

The poem I wanted to share with you is “Shab-e Yalda” by Anis Mojgani, the 10th (and current) Oregon Poet Laureate. Shab-e Yalda is a Persian celebration that takes place when the sun sets on the last day of fall (winter solstice) and continues until dawn of the next day. Since the ancient Persians largely depended on agriculture for their livelihood, they learned to plant and gather according to the change in seasons and the length of the days. For this reason, they celebrate Yalba, which means rebirth (of the sun). During this night they gather with family and friends, eat delicious food, drink, sing happy songs all night, and listen to stories about old times. The main Yalda fruits are watermelon, pomegranate, persimmons, apples, and pears, though other fruits such as oranges, tangerines, and kiwi are also available in Iran at this time of the year. The ancient myth says that eating watermelon on Yalda night makes the person immune to cold winter weather and the coming summer’s heat. 

With this in mind, here is the poem that I hope gives you a similar feeling of accomplishment today. Tonight, I hope you gather together with the important people in your lives. Share a meal. Tell your stories. Celebrate that we have made it. Though the days will still be hard, they will inevitably be a bit lighter from this point forward. 

Shab-e Yalda
by Anis Mojgani

On this day have watermelon. Split pomegranate
to share. Break it easily under the water in the bowl.
Build a bonfire. For there is a loneliness around us.
May the fire light your way out of it. May the darkness
grow shorter as the light of the dusky hours grow tall
with each day that follows. Climb over the dark and
over the mountain. Beyond both something awaits us.
Bring picnic baskets. Blankets. Watermelon. A pretty plate.
Follow the peacock. Listen to the green bird sing. Let its song
climb. Into your deepest silence. Across your prettiest plate.
Today is the longest night. On tomorrow the dark
shortens. And the blueness of the winter flowers
will change. For you. Into another bluish blue.