epa12605822 Iranians view Yalda decorations as they prepare to celebrate the Yalda feast in Tehran, Iran, 20 December 2025. Yalda is an ancient tradition marking the onset of winter and the longest night of the year. The celebration goes back thousands of years to the time when Zoroastrianism was the predominant religion of ancient Persia. Watermelons and pomegranates, along with dried fruit, are the main specialties of the Yalda feast. EPA/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH
