Yalda Night and Christmas

Last night, December 19th was the longest night of the year, happens to be the night between the seasons fall and winter, after which, nights are shorter and days are longer. Based on this fact, this night is celebrated in old Persian culture since +3000 years ago as a sign of light in the life. The night is called Yalda Night, a word coming from Assyrian roots.

Some historians say that at the first century AD when the Roman Empire accepted Christianity as the official religion, they considered the same night, Yalda Night, by effects from their neighbor, Persian Empire, as the time that light (Jesus) came to the human life. Later the day changed about a week ahead and went to December 26th.