شب یلدا؛ شب چله، شب ایرانی
ايرانيان سی ام آذر ماه با جشنی شبانه با آخرين روز پاييز وداع می گويند ؛ جشنی که از آن به عنوان جشن شب چله يا شب يلدا نام برده می شود.
شب چله برای ايرانيان شب تولد ميترا خداوندگار روشنايی است. آنها طولانی ترين شب سال را با گفت و شنود و خوردن آجيل و ميوه های سرخ فام به اميد پيروزی روشنی بر تاريکی سپری می کنند.
گفته می شود مراسم شب چله يا تولد ميترا که از آئين ميترائيسم برجای مانده، در زمان جنگ ايرانيان با يونانيان به آن کشور رفت و از آن طريق به روم رسيد و از آن پس اروپائيان آن را به عنوان شب تولد عيسی مسيح قرار دادند
SHAB-E YALDA
Another account of “Shab-e Yalda”, “Night of Birth” as the The Eve of the Birth of Mithra, the Sun God
‘Shab-e Yalda’, celebrated on 21 December, has great significance in the Iranian calendar. It is the eve of the birth of Mithra, the Sun God, who symbolised light, goodness and strength on earth. Shab-e Yalda is a time of joy.
Yalda is a Syriac word meaning birth. Mithra-worshippers used the term ‘yalda’ specifically with reference to the birth of Mithra. As the longest night of the year, the Eve of Yalda (Shab-e Yalda) is also a turning point, after which the days grow longer. In ancient times it symbolised the triumph of the Sun God over the powers of darkness.
Over the centuries Mithraism spread to Greece and Ancient Rome via Asia Minor, gaining popularity within the ranks of the Roman army. In the 4th century AD as a result of errors made in calculating leap years and dates, the birthday of Mithra was transferred to 25 December. Until then Christ’s birthday had been celebrated on 6 January by all branches of the Christian Church. But with the cult of Mithra still popular in Roman Europe, the Christian Church adopted many of the Mithraic rituals and proclaimed 25 December as the official birthday of Christ. Today the Armenian and Eastern Orthodox Churches continue to celebrate 6 January as Christ’s birthday.
“It was said that Mithra was born out of the light that came from within the Alborz mountains.”