Happy Zayeshmehr, the birth of Mithra (Yalda) to all Iranians and Parsi speaking people, Also to all the people around the world.

[wölfin-fräulein]

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In the name of Ahura Mazdā

as some of you may know today was the 21'st of December. and tonight is the night of the winter solstice.

Tonight is blessed with the smile of Mithra in the moment of his birth. And in three days the forces of Angra mainyu will shake in fear of the new born Sun until his cowardly Daevas leave the fields of war and flee to darkness taking shelter in their shaking shacks of ignorance in December 25th. So that in another turn they can take over again. but they know this cycle will end one day and this mixing will be replaced with the purity of the light and the banishment of the Darkness from our territory, our fatherland, the land of Mazda Ahura, the greatest of Asura, the wisdom, love, and light.

1.

What does Zayeshmehr mean?

Zayeshmehr means the birth of Mehr or Mithra.

Zayesh + Mehr : Birth of Mehr

Mehr : Mithra.

Tonight is the eve of the first day of the winter in the Iranian Calender, in which the Zoroastrians, and also the rest of the Iranians and some of the Parsi speaking countries regardless of their religion celebrate the night of the winter solstice according to pre-Islamic Aryan traditions that is the Birth of the greatest Izad, Mithra, the Sun.

2.

Why does it also called "Chelle"?

Chelle means "forty" and comes from the number "Chehel" in Parsi language that is the number "forty". The night is also named Chelle because it is the night opening of the initial forty-day period of the three month winter.

This term is rather new, and made by the people who got distanced from the pure Zoroastrian essence of this celebration.

Alike such works we see in Nowrouz celebration too, which is a Zoroastrian celebration and the Iranians and Parsi speaking people celebrate it despite the majority of them being Muslims.

3.

What is the essence of the Zayeshmehr celebration?

The Birth of the greatest Izad Mithra, Is the night in which the forces of light with the power of the new born sun start to drive back the forces of Darkness and begin their victorious advantage into the heart of darkness until The the day of summer solstice.

In This war there is an advantage of lightness every night and thus the nights begin to become shorter and shorter. Until the beginning of spring that is the day of the crowning of the Sun upon nature and the beginning of the new kingdome and so the new Zoroastrian year.

4.

What do the Ashavans (the Mazda-Yasn people) do in the night of the Birth of the Greatest Izad Mithra?

translated from the book "Az nowrouz ta nowrouz from Koorosh Niknam".

کورش نیکنام از نوروز تا نوروز

Our ancestors (Aryans) came together and spread the ritual night table and set of the ritual symbols of Amshaspndan, agricultural products, and beside the fire of the house they celebrated and celebrate the longest Year's Eve. They were awake through the Night and until the dawn, and the appearance of the Rayumand (the shining) Sun they joyfully celebrated and prayed.

Beh-Dinan (The Zoroastrians) came together with relatives and acquaintances and friends. Especially in the houses of the elders and the Grandparents, and they joined together as one.

Each family brought with themselves the fresh fruits such as watermelon, melon, pomegranate, grape, apple, etc, that they have kept for the night, along with the dried fruits and Lork (or lark, a set of chosen nuts for the night known as Gahanbaar nuts). sweets and drinks as well made the table more colouful.

Pomegranate and watermelon, because of the fresh red colour of them have special place in the table of the night. and families won't forget to bring them for the celebration.

Grandparents and the elders tell sweet tales and legends and the story of the ones who came before and our ancestors to the children. They read "Shahname" (the book of kings by the great poet ferdowsi), they play music, and in this way they pass the night until the morning and the rays of Mithra begin to shine above the land.

Some of the examples of the Prayers From Khorda Avesta Mithra yasn:

0.

In the name of God. May the majesty and glory of Ohrmazd, the beneficent lord, increase. (Hither) may come Mithra of wide cattle pastures, the true judge. Of all sins ... I repent.

1-9.

Homage to you, O Ahura Mazda ... come to my help, O Mazda. We sacrifice to the good, helpful, holy Fravashis of the righteous. We sacrifice to Mithra of wide cattle pastures.

10.

I proclaim ... of the Ahurian Faith.

Propitiation ... glorification to Mithra of wide cattle pastures, who has a thousand ears, who has ten thousand eyes, the Yazad who is invoked by name, (and) to Rama Khvastra. As (he is) the Lord that is to be chosen ... let one who knows it pronounce it to me.

11.
We sacrifice to Mithra of wide cattle pastures, whose word is true ... the ever wakeful. We sacrifice to Mithra, who is around the country. We sacrifice to Mithra, who is within the country. We sacrifice to Mithra, who is in the country. We sacrifice to Mithra, who is above the country. We sacrifice to Mithra, who is under the country. We sacrifice to Mithra, who is before the country. We sacrifice to Mithra, who is behind the country.

5.

Why is this day so special for us?

The day of the winter solstice resembles the whole Zoroastrian Dualistic philosophy very beautifully in one night. Though the surface of it.

And the beginning of every understanding of the greatest concepts lies in the smiplest of events.

For this purpose we celebrate this special night of Mithra so our children grow close to the fire of the philosophy of our ancestors and for it to be a ray of Sun in their beautiful world of imaginations to begin thinking and imagining the most complex images of the mysteries of universe.

6.

What are the following great celebrations?

The great celebrations following the Birth of the Greatest of Izads Mithra is the Sade celebration and Nowrouz.

Sade

sade comes from the word "Sad" in Parsi , meaning "Hundred". and the Celebration is the celebration of the 100th day after the end of summer into the cold seasons.

in the celebration Zoroastrians light a very huge fire and as the Mithras day they pass the night celebrating and praying.

This is one of the greatest Zoroastrian celebrations of the year.

Nowrouz

Nowrouz is the most known and the most important Persian celebration that is the celebration of the new Zoroastrian year. the date is March 19, 20, 21 or 22, depending on the date in the Zoroastrian calender.

What is The relation between the three celebrations?

The relation is as it was said between the beginning of the advantage of the lightness until the flourishing of nature in the Spring, that resembles the victory of light over darkness.

7.

What are the influences of this day on other beliefs? and what are some of the similar celebrations?

Celebrating the winter solstice was relevant between many of the ancient Indo-European cultures.

From the Persian culture, to Greco-Roman culture for Saturn, to Celtic celebrations and the Germanic celebration of Yuletide.

But the influences of this particular celebration on other beliefs can be seen in Christianity for example in Christmas. That in it the Christ plays the role of Mithras and his Birth on the day of winter solstice (winter solstice is a three to five day process and the determination is/was between these days) is the same as the Birth of Mithras. And the role of him again as the Savior of mankind is borrowed from the Mazdaic belief of the new born Sun and the victory of the lightness over darkness.

Though emptied of all the philosophy behind the celebration, and mixing it with the monist Monotheist Judeo-Christian belief, Christmass is nothing but a celebration of a religious "historical-fictional" Character inside the Christian world.

"yes, Christmass is our celebration"

So, Merry Mithras...

Sara Von.M , 21'st December 2014, 19:23pm.

"The family is already waiting so...have a good time"

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