Learn from evergreen trees
Yalda is one of the few celebrations in the world that is thousands of years old. This festive event has gone through many highs and lows. And more than any other Iranian festivity, it has been targeted by oppressors who detest joy, music, and celebration, those who cannot even stand the sight of the cypress tree that the pre-Islamic Iranians beautifully decorated every year.
The Persians loved plants, especially the evergreen cypress and pine trees, because of their extraordinary interest in nature (and the fact that in ancient Persia, political and religious leaders encouraged them to preserve nature). They could see that these trees were resilient, standing tall, green, and proud in the face of snow, storms, and cold as winter cold blew through the land, and that these magnificent trees welcome spring in short time with freshness and joy.
It is not a surprise that the cypress has played a prominent role in all of our history: in stories, in rituals, in poetry and literature and art, in architecture and reliefs and inscriptions, and on fabrics and carpets.
I believe it is quite clear that the custom of hanging colorful and cheerful cloths (fabrics and materials) on ancient trees, to which people still adhere to in corners of Iran, is a continuation of the same ancient ritual of decorating cedar and pine trees on the occasion of Yalda. All of these rituals have changed over the last few centuries because during different times, people have been fearful of religious zealots and fanatical leadership.
However, today people who decorate trees come from many different cultural and religious backgrounds. It is good that centuries before the Arab invasion, our evergreen tree and the ritual of decorating the tree was exported to Europe with the followers of Mehr, or Mithra. In Europe the practice and rituals of decorating an evergreen tree was adopted by the Christians and to this day, around the same time as Yalda, in the houses and streets of many countries around the world, this beautiful and glorious tradition is practiced and celebrated. Although as Iranians we have been deprived of the gift of Yalda cypresses in our homes and streets for centuries, we fortunately still celebrate Yalda. Despite the oppression, this beautiful festive date with its green cypress has been engraved in our hearts and mind.
Yalda’s tradition has been with us for a long time, with its enduring light, joy, and the thought of its evergreen, even when they changed the name to “Chelleh.” Even when we have been forced to gather in the corners of our houses for this celebration of sun and love, instead of celebrating it with dancing and singing in public streets and alleyways. Let’s celebrate with pride and joy and away from the eyes of oppression.
Unfortunately, this year, on the eve of the great Yalda, the people of Iran are experiencing immense suffering, pain, and darkness. Both the pandemic and the monster of darkness and tyranny of the Islamic government has fallen on our land. But it is at this time that Yalda reminds us to learn from the evergreens and t0 attain enlightenment. It is not solely our spring of love, but also our wish for future generations’ of happiness and freedom that our people truly deserve.
Next to the Yalda’s ornamented and adorned cypress tree, I wish everyone happiness and a spring of freedom illuminating our land to come.
Desember 20. 2020