Iran Press/ Iran news: 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 the Shahnameh until well after midnight. Fruits and nuts are eaten and pomegranates and watermelons are particularly significant.
The red color in these fruits symbolizes the crimson hues of dawn and the glow of life.
After dinner, the older individuals entertain the others by telling them tales and anecdotes.
The poems of Divan-e Hafez, which can be found in the bookcases of most Iranian families, are read or recited on various occasions such as this festival and Nowruz.
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