Yalda Night, or Khor-Ruz, retells one of the most ancient beliefs of the unconscious of the peoples of the Iranian world: belief in the struggle between light and darkness and in the ultimate victory of light over darkness. In the collective and national unconscious of Iranians, Yalda can be understood as an embodiment of our shared hope in the final triumph of light over darkness—and perhaps, beyond that, of our faith in the fulfilment of this primordial promise.

We celebrate the birthday of the sun at the widest, strongest, and longest dominion of night and darkness. A celebration filled with light on the longest night of the year bears witness to our historical faith in the victory of Mithra and light, even when we see darkness and blackness at the height of their dominion and power.

This archetype remains profoundly alive and powerful in the collective memory of the peoples of Iranshahr, and preserving it has an importance beyond that of a historical tradition. Khor-Ruz is our hope and our historical belief in victory.

Aydin Areta