Yaldā Night (Persian: شب یلدا, romanized: shab-e yaldâ) or Chelle Night (also Chellah Night, Persian: شب چلّه, romanized: shab-e chelle, lit. "fortieth night") is an ancient festival in Iran, Kurdistan, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan that is celebrated on the winter solstice. This corresponds to the night of December 20/21 (±1) in the Gregorian calendar, and to the night between the last day of the ninth month (Azar) and the first day of the tenth month (Dey) of the Iranian solar calendar.The longest and darkest night of the year is a time when friends and family gather together to eat, drink and read poetry (especially Hafez) and Shahnameh until well after midnight. Fruits and nuts are...