Yalda night is the longest night of the year, the night in which the morning starts later and the moon and stars go home later, Yalda night has a special place in Iranian culture and they have customs and rituals in it that are interesting and worth reading. Zanjan province is one of the provinces of the country where Yalda night has a special place among the people and people do things that are interesting for other compatriots. Reading Hafez's horoscope, reading the Shahnameh, retelling memories, telling stories of parents and grandparents, attending family elders' homes, reading thanksgiving prayers for blessings and health, decorating a special table with all kinds of fruits and nuts, preparing snacks and sweets, eating watermelon, and most importantly Salah Arham. Among the ancient customs and traditions of the people of Zanjan is Yalda night.Some people believe that eating watermelon on this night prevents the effects of cold in winter and heatstroke in summer, which is done in most parts of our country and people eat watermelon on this night. One of the most important and beautiful things that is done on Yalda night is salah and meeting the elders, which even after many years, people, especially the younger ones, try to do it well.

In some places of Zanjan province, people have a custom to visit the elders of the tribe and family on this night and spend the Yalda night there, or as the Zanjanis and Azeri call it, Cheleh night. In Zanjan, on the night of Yalda, the younger and younger members of the family or the children gather at the house of the father and grandfather and spend this night happily. Sweets, nuts, and fruit are taken to the bride's house, which is called Shabchereh.

Zanjani's Shabchereh includes all kinds of nuts, sweets and seasonal fruits such as pomegranate, parsnip and watermelon along with gifts for the bride, in decorated packages called khunche. Of course, this action of the groom's family will be reciprocated by the bride's family the following year on the first night of Yalda, and this time the bride's family will take a night out for their daughter. Eating nuts, especially cracking walnuts, hazelnuts, and almonds, has a special place in Zanjani traditions, along with modern nuts and elderberries. Zanjan people mix some white snow with grape juice on Yalda night and eat it, which is very delicious.

Also, the Zanjanis welcome their guests with foods such as radish, turnip, cabbage and snacks such as dried berries and figs, raisins, walnuts and chickpeas on this night.

In some parts of Zanjan province, where the chair is still used for heating in the old style, and modern heaters without the need for pipes, etc., do not have a place there, on the night of Yalda and in welcoming the long days of mercy and blessings in the four corners of the Kersi And they break the cocoons in the hope that happiness and laughter will reign over them. In addition to eating, the Zanjani people have other customs for this night, such as riddles and riddles by the elders and group games such as flower or pooch, which are entertainments that occupy the whole family on Yalda night.

In order to create a warm center in families on Yalda night in Zanjan, when the weather is usually cold and below zero. Of course, these traditions may not be implemented in some areas of the province due to troubles and problems, but there are still families who adhere to these traditions and if they don't implement these traditions, they are disappointed and don't consider it auspicious.