winter is commonly known for its special, attractive and unique beauties, winter is the favorite seasons among many people, especially Eco-tourists and nature lovers. Mountains, forests and white trees create spectacular scenery. In Iran, the winter season begins on December 22nd, and lasts until March 19th. Ardebil, Urmia, Tekab, Marivan and Sanandaj are usually the coldest cities in Iran during winter. People in some parts of Iran cook special foods during the winter. These traditional cuisines include of soups and pottages.

Winter celebrations
Iranians have long held various festivals and celebrations during the winter. Yalda Night is one of the most celebrated Iranian celebrations still held by Iranians. The Yalda Night Ceremony, also called “Shab e Chelleh”, has been held every year since 5000 years ago on December 22nd to greet the winter and celebrate the longest night of the year in Iran. In ancient Iran, Yalda night was known as the night of the sun's birth, in another sense when the sun's light overcomes the darkness of the night. The Yalda Night Ceremony is an excuse for family members to be together. On this night, younger family members gather in their grandparents’ house and celebrate the beginning of winter and the longest night of the year by eating watermelons, pomegranates , nuts, figs and other dried fruits, boiled beetroot and pastries.
Another celebration still held in many parts of Iran, including Khorasan, Arak, Semnan, Khomein and Delijan, is the Sadeh celebration. The Sadeh is held on the 30th day of January each year and is actually celebrated forty days after Yalda. Many cultures in Iran consider the coldest days of winter four days before and after the 30th day of January and somehow celebrate the Sadeh in the middle of the coldest days of winter in Iran. Some provinces have special performances for celebrating the Sadeh. The other winter celebration in Iran is called the mid-winter celebration. While the celebration is largely forgotten today, it is still celebrated in some cities as mid-winter festival. The reason for the mid-winter celebration is that people believe the winter giant is failing and that the earth will soon wake up and become full of flowers and lush green grass. The Iranian Zoroastrians still celebrating the mid-winter celebration. The Zoroastrians celebrate Ahura Mazda at this feast, and everyone helps the poor as much as they can.

Warmth in winter
From very long years until decades ago, Korsies were the winter guests of Iranian houses as a heating device. The Korsies were one-by-one-meter-long rectangular tables covered with large quilts so that the heat of the charcoal heater beneath the table would not be wasted, and the recliner, pillow, and backrest would be used to sit around it. But more modern heating devices are now used in winter.

Winter sights in Iran
Since the southern Parts of Iran are temperate during winter, many people prefer to travel to these cities in winter. Hengam Island in Hormozgan Province, Kish Island , Maharloo Lake in Fars Province and Lut Desert in Kerman are a destination for many tourists in winter.
But the colder cities also have amazing sights that attract Eco-tourists and nature-lovers. Touchal Resort in Tehran is one of the most visited tourist destinations for Iranian tourists and hikers in winter and is a great place for adventure . Touchal has seven stations: tele cabins, tele ski, ski resorts, hiking trails, and hotels. The Shemshak in Dizin ski resort is located in Alborz Province and is also endorsed by the World Ski Federation. The best time to use it is usually from early December to early May. In addition to skiing, this resort has several restaurants and hotels for winter stays. Payam Ski Resort in East Azerbaijan is one of the oldest ski resorts in Iran which is open only three days a week and also has a professional ski resort. Sarein hot springs and Spa in Ardebil province and also Ramsar hot springs are popular destinations for hot springs fans. Traveling to the countryside of Mazandaran provinces, such as the village of Sheikh Musa in Babul and the village of Javaherdeh in Ramsar , can make for an unforgettable winter trip because of its pristine snowy landscapes and frozen waterfalls. Iran, as a country with 4 beautiful seasons and having hot springs and natural ponds, is an excellent opportunity for relaxation and relaxation in the cold winters of the northern regions. To see these beauties, you can sign up for our 4 seasons at a glance tour.