The cultural and social Yalda Night (Shab-e Yalda / Chelleh) was organized by the Hazara Culture House of Finland on Saturday evening, December 20, at the Kalliolan Setlementti ry hall. The event was attended by a large and enthusiastic audience, including Hazaras from across Finland, members of the migrant community, cultural activists, researchers, students, civil society members, and representatives of the host society.
The program began with hosting by Abbas Rezaei and Bakhtawar Panahi. Following this, Naim Panahi and Ms. Zainab Alizadeh, members of the administrative board of the Hazara Culture House of Finland, introduced the Yalda Night program in both Persian and Finnish. They explained the historical background and cultural importance of this ancient tradition and emphasized its role in promoting mutual understanding, cultural exchange among different communities, and strengthening hope and positive thinking for a brighter future. They described Yalda Night as a symbol of resilience against darkness and ignorance, and hope for the return of light and the rising sun.
The program continued with a Yalda-themed song performed by two young girls, Sheida and Lina Wafa. Their hopeful voices filled the hall with warmth and tenderness and were met with long applause from the audience. Poetry recitations followed, performed by Mirzaman Arghun, Masoumeh Haidari, and Aliyar Behsudi. The recitation of Hazaragi folk poems and Yalda-themed poetry highlighted the important place of literature and poetry in Yalda traditions.
The music segment featured live performances by Hafiz Habibi and Mr. Shahin Sahar. Their beautiful melodies added warmth to the celebration and showed the close connection between music and cultural traditions.
In another part of the event, Zahra Hosseini and Reza Abdali (former candidate in the city council elections) shared their experiences of civic participation and the electoral process. They emphasized the importance of social awareness and the active role of citizens in strengthening democratic participation.
Hafez Fortune-Telling and Collective Traditions
One of the traditional parts of Yalda Night, Hafez fortune-telling, was held through a draw among participants. Selected verses of Hafez’s poetry, prepared by Ms. Malika Alizadeh, were placed in a basket and passed among the audience. Participants chose a verse with personal intention, and several were selected to be read aloud. This segment added to the warm and cultural atmosphere of the event.
Appreciating Outstanding Athletes and Champions
During the program, appreciation was given to outstanding athletes in recognition of their achievements:
- Bismillah Mardani, World Championship silver medalist and Nordic countries champion
- Ali Haidari, Nordic countries silver medalist in fitness and bodybuilding
- Salar Sharifi, European Muay Thai Championships (Athens) silver medalist
Certificates of appreciation were presented by Master Aman Yousefi, Mr. Nasrullah Paik, Mr. Ebrahim Rosta, and Ms. Ilona Niinikangas.
Dedicating the “Association Of The Year” award to the People
During the program, it was announced that the Hazara Culture House in Finland had been selected as Association of the Year and had received an award from the multicultural network Moniheli. This recognition was awarded in appreciation of the association’s valuable activities in the areas of integration, promoting a multicultural society, and cooperating with other institutions to strengthen multicultural values. Mr. Latif Fayaz, Director of the Hazara Culture House in Finland, was invited to address the audience on this occasion.
Mr. Fayaz, while congratulating everyone on Yalda Night and expressing his gratitude for the presence of the people and the beloved artist of our community, Mr. Aman Yousofi, stated that the selection of the Hazara Culture House in Finland as Association of the Year was the result of the people’s cooperation and active participation. He emphasized that Hazaras consider Finland their second home and strive toward building a just and multicultural society. He also thanked Finnish institutions, individuals, and the wider Finnish society for their cooperation with the Hazara Culture House. Mr. Fayaz described the Honorary Trophy as a collective achievement and dedicated it to the people.
In the final and most memorable part of the evening, Master Aman Yousefi—one of the community’s most beloved artists—performed Yalda and Hazaragi folk songs. His performances revived memories of home and warmed the long and cold Finnish night. Hamed Payandeh added energy and joy with lively songs, and the cultural Yalda Night concluded with music and celebration.
Watch full program here
