"Residents of Tehran shared their thoughts on the important and beloved celebration known as Yalda. The holiday is an opportunity to foster family ties as well as cultural and traditional rituals stretching back thousands of years. Footage shows locals taking pictures with a variety of fruit-themed decorations, while others can be seen walking around the markets. An Iranian visitor who lives in Rotterdam explained the significance of the occasion. "My wife and I travel to Iran every year to celebrate Yalda. Yalda is the longest night of the year. We celebrate hope and light during Yalda. We gather with the whole family and friends, we eat fruits like pomegranate and watermelon, and we enjoy nuts and sweets,” he explained. "In the past, they said that the last night of autumn was very cold because it was so long, so families always gathered together so that no one would feel the cold, and the coldness would be covered by the warmth of the family," local Mobina shared. Yalda Night is observed on the night of December 21 of each year, bringing together Iranian families around low tables adorned with fruits and nuts, reciting poetry and stories. The celebration revives an ancient Persian tradition that marks the longest night of the year. The celebration of Shab-e Yalda spans the time between sunset on the final day of autumn and sunrise on the first day of winter. With roots stretching back centuries, Yalda Night has long been regarded as one of the most significant cultural observances in Iranian history. Historical records reportedly indicate that it was officially included in the calendar of ancient Iran in 502 BC during the reign of Darius I, commonly known as Darius the Great. "