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History of Yalda
What today we call as Christmas is originally an Iranian celebration called Yalda ( یلدا) celebrated on the Northern Hemisphere's longest night of the year, that is, on the eve of the Winter Solstice Original celebration of Christmas has been due to birthday of Mithra/Mehr (21st Dec) celebrated in Persia and other parts of Europe by Mithraists. Also its coincidence with Jewish Hanukkah (Festival of Lights) is not just an accident. Already before the appearance of Christianity, the Romans celebrated birthday of Persian Mehr (called in English: Mithra) as Mithra Kana Celebration on December 25th in honor of the birth of Mehr/Mithra. The Mithra was known as the child of God. In ancient Iranian beliefs, Mehr/Mithra was born of His Virgin Mother Anahita. In a temple, from 200 BCE in Iran. Mithra was known as king and the Son of God (Note: same story as Mary and Jesus). The affix da in Yalda is from Persian, and is an Indo-European word meaning day which can not be found among Syriac words. Therefore, as a whole the word Yalda does not mean birth but Day symbolizes light and it is the sign of God and good power against the darkness, night, that symbolizes evil. In Iran the 21st of December occurs on the first day of 10th month of Persian calendar called DAY (دی ) which is the start of Yalda season.
In both Yalda and Nowruz traditions Iranians gathered together, eat together and gave gifts to each other especially to children. But how it became as a custom in Christmas in Europe and rest of the world? In respect of Yalda/Christmas if we go back to the birth of Jesus we can find some sign for such nice fellow (Santa Claus, or in Finnish Joulupukki) coming from Persia. It is said that when Jesus was aAlso the Christmas tree has its roots in Persian Yalda. What does a pine tree have to do with the birth of Jesus? Nothing, but it has a lot to do with Persian Mehr/Mitra in Yalda/Yule, that in a temple in Rome each March 22 a pine tree would be carried and decorated with flowers and carvings. Today, even though people celebrate the Christmas every year but unfortunately nobody know why they put the Christmas tree and decorated it, and what these decorations actually mean! The Christmas tree is actually one of the holy trees held in old Persians celebrations, namely Yalda. Iranians celebrate Yalda (Yule) and decorated an evergreen tree, the Sarve In one aspect Persians decorated the Yalda (Yule, Christmas) tree so that it represents our solar system. On the top of the tree was the Sun (i.e. the symbol of Mehr, Mithra) and under it, around the tree, there were other decorations presenting the planets and stars (as today may in some Christmas tree decorations be seen). Persians put also two silver/golden ribbons on the tree indicating the Milky Way i.e. a galactic dust (in Persian , in Finnish Linnunrata) that we can also somehow see as decorations in today s Christmas trees. The younger girls had their wishes symbolically wrapped in colorful silk cloth and hung them on the tree with lots of presents for Mitra, to answer their prayers. As you may know, Luther, the famous German reformer, in the 18th century (about 1756), having learned of the Yalda Sarve tree (سرو ), introduced the Christmas tree to the Germans. Another subject in Christmas time that can be found far past in Persia is the Santa Claus which has an origin in Persia from Yalda and Nowruz celebrations. bout to born, three Persian Wise Men (priests Magi , from the Zarathustrian religion which is the first religion believing in one God), predicted the born of Jesus, that according to the Persian beliefs would be the Messiah (the Mithra of the time) and will become the King of Jews and the Son of God. In Persia Magis (Wise Men, ) paid particular attention to the stars, and gained an international reputation for astrology. These three Magis are said to travelled from Persia to Jerusalem before Mary delivered Jesus. However, when these three Magis came to Mary, they honored her by presenting their gifts on the honor of birth of the Jesus But in Persia the Magi was a person who brought gifts and hope also in the beginning of Nowruz celebration. In Iran he is called Father Nowruz, or Uncle Nowruz or Baba Nowruz ( ). Such a nice fellow was missing from Christmas for a long time, so that later on in Europe, Christians wanted to treat their children like Magis treated Jesus and therefore the Baba Nowruz or Magi concept was used under a new name Santa Claus . Santa wears the same cape or robe as Baba Nowruz dose. Now at every Christmas time a man wears on Magi cape and as a Yule/Yalda/Christmas father (the later Santa Claus, in Persian also Baba Noel) brings gifts for children i.e. the same Persian gift bringer , Magi or Baba Nowruz .
Even though the Mithraism as a single religion is not actively present in our today life, but almost all of its traditions and ideas are present, that are transferred via Zarathustrianism to most of the major religions and our traditions of today. Professor Parviz Varjavand, saying: If someone asks you Do you know what is the reason for this season? answer The birth of Mehr/ Mithra/ Jesus and light . So Merry Yalda/Yule/Yuletide/Jul/Joulu/ Christmas and Happy every New Year.

Source: Independent.academia.edu/LoveHope

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