In the previous post I mentioned Shab-e Yalda, the Iranian winter festival that was celebrated last week. This is a pre-Islamic festival, dating back to the worship of the ancient god Mithra, or Mehr, whose birth was celebrated at the beginning of winter. The worship of Mithra travelled west and became firmly established throughout the Roman Empire, reaching as far as the British Isles. In fact, the foundations of a small temple to Mithra are still visible a small distance from the Bank underground station in the city of London.
As Christianity supplanted older religions, the celebration of the birth of Mithra, which bore the promise of summer and light at the darkest time of the year was replaced by the celebration of Christ’s birth, at roughly the same time, and the promise of victory of good (light) over evil (darkness).
At the threshold of the New Year, I end this year of posts with a reminder of how people and their feasts are much closer that we think at first sight, and with the wish that the New Year will bring us all much closer.
All the best in the New Year, but above all, health, prosperity and peace.
