SHOTLIST:

TEHRAN, IRAN (DEC. 20, 2025) (ANADOLU - ACCESS ALL)

1. VARIOUS OF MARKETPLACE FOR SHAB-E YALDA IN TEHRAN / PEOPLE VISITING MARKETPLACE, POSING WITH DECORATIONS / DANCE PERFORMANCE AT MARKETPLACE

TEHRAN, IRAN - DEC. 20: Iranians are preparing to mark Shab-e Yalda, the country’s traditional celebration of the winter solstice and the longest night of the year, observed on Dec. 21, as markets and festivities take shape across the capital, Tehran.

Special markets have been set up in various districts of Tehran ahead of Shab-e Yalda, one of Iran’s oldest traditions, with residents visiting the areas to shop in preparation for the celebrations.

Festival spaces decorated with lights and ornaments feature stalls alongside mascots shaped like pomegranates, watermelons and pumpkins, welcoming visitors accompanied by music.

Shab e Yalda, which translates into “night of birth” in the ancient language of Syriac and falls between Dec 21 and 22, dates back to the pre-Islamic period when majority of Iranians followed Zoroastrianism.

The festival marks the end of autumn and the beginning of winter. It is also considered the "longest and darkest night of the year" in the northern hemisphere.