After several years of efforts by supporters and devotees of Iranian culture (in Iran and abroad) and a global campaign, the Persian festival of Yalda has been recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). At the seventeenth session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, hosted by Morocco from 28 November to 3 December four submissions from Iran were recognized and registered in the World Intangible Heritage List. These included Yalda, the art of making and playing the oud, Turkmen embroidery, and silkworm breeding. In the last few decades, the Islamic government of Iran had refused to send the requests for recognition of Yalda, Mehrgan, Sadeh, Chaharbansuri, Sizdeh Be Dar and other Iranian festivals to the UNESCO, while Shia-religious heritage such as Ta’ziyya, Ashura ceremony, Arba’in and other Shia-religious had been submitted.

We consider the occasion of the recognition and listing of the festival of Yalda, which is a symbol of the struggle between light and darkness, which also coincides with the rise of freedom-seeking Iranian people very significant. We wish that the sun of freedom will shine over our land as soon as possible so that the people of Iran will once again be free and live among the advanced people of the world while celebrating the beautiful Iranian culture.

Shokooh Mirzadegi

December 1, 2022

www.savepasargad.com