A celebration for the longest night of the year (Dec20-21 in the northern hemisphere). Known as Yalda, it is the second most important Persian celebration after Nowruz (the new year at the beginning of spring). It is an ancient winter solstice tradition of several thousand years old that brings family together to celebrate the rebirth of the sun after the longest night. Some of the Christmas elements share common origin with Yalda and the Mithraic tradition of worshiping the sun-god. The pomegranate was the symbol of fertility in ancient Persia.