Christmas the mixed culture of east and west

When in the middle of the third century, Mithraism reached the apogee of its power; it seemed that the world was on the verge of becoming Mithraic, the religion from Orient and Persia. The extension of Mithraism, in the Rome and other western countries, was a natural product of importation of slaves, and transportation of troops. Because of his powerful God Mithraism became the favored religion of soldiers.

As Christianity grew in power, Mithraism became more and more isolated. But similarities between two religions make us believe that traditions must have passed from the one cult to the other.

For example, the sectaries of The Persian god, like the Christians, purified themselves by baptism: received, by a species of confirmation, the power necessary to combat the spirits of evil; and expected from a Lord's Supper salvation of body and soul. Also, their conceptions of the world and of the destiny of man were similar. Both of them admitted the existence of a Heaven inhabited by beatified ones, situate in the upper regions, and of a Hell peopled by demons, situate in the bowels of the earth. They both placed a Flood at the beginning of history; they both finally, believed in the immortality of the soul, in a last judgment, and in a resurrection of the dead, consequent upon a final conflagration of the universe.

Mithraism like Christianity, also held Sunday sacred, and celebrated the birth of the Sun on the 25th of December, the same day on which Christmas has been celebrated, since the fourth century at least.

So Christmas does not merely belong to Christianity, but it is a universal festival, especially for Persians.
Merry Christmas.

Source:
Cumont Franz., 1956; the Mysteries of Mithra, New York.

Yalda (Shabe Yalda)

At the eve of the first day of the winter (21st December) Iranian people celebrate Yalda, also is known as Shab-e Chele. This festival is celebrated in the last day of the Persian month Azar, which is the longest night of the year. Iranians light up candles, and lay a tablecloth with fresh winter fruits such as pomegranate, watermelon and grapes and different kinds of dried fruits, nuts, and seeds.

This festival was considered extremely important in pre-Islamic time, and can be traced in a period of more than 6000 years.

Yalda is a Syriac word, which means birth (tavalod). They believed, sun was born at the end of this night.

According to ancient believes, each month of the year belongs to one deity. The month of azar belongs to Azar (Fire), the son of Ahura Mazda. The next month, Day, belongs to Ahura Mazda, The Lord of Wisdon. But the last day of month Azar is the longest night of the year, and the forces of Ahriman, Lord of darkness, are assumed to be at the peak of their strength. So people made fire and burnt it all night in order to prevent Ahriman's forces attack; and helped Mithra, the powerful deity, to bring the light. Because according to Avesta, Mithra, is a light-bringer, he is, the first light of the day. His epithet in Avesta is hvaaraokh.shana-, which means "endowed with own light".

Enjoy Yalda night, because it is the legacy of our ancestor and belongs to our grand grand fathers.