Multigenerational Home in Solingen Experiences Night-time Occurrence
Jalda Night Celebrated by Persian-German Cultural Exchange and Sports Club in Solingen
The Persian-German Cultural Exchange and Sports Club e.V. recently hosted a memorable Jalda Night celebration at the Haus der Begegnung on Mercimek-Platz, opposite the Theater and Konzerthaus Solingen. The event, marking the Winter Solstice, is a traditional Iranian festival that symbolises the victory of light over darkness and the renewal of the sun.
Gholamreza Amani, the founder and chairman of the club, welcomed attendees with a Persian speech and a German greeting, setting the tone for an evening filled with Persian culture and history. Amani showcased his multifaceted talents, performing acting, singing, and reciting Persian poetry in its original language and in German translation.
The Jalda Night was a celebration of peace and hope, similar to the Christmas festival in Germany and other countries. The event was marked by traditional Persian epic songs, recitations, and performances by Layla Yapichi and other contributors, all dressed in colorful traditional costumes. An old club member, dressed as an "old woman", explained the importance of the festival to the gathered crowd.
Many club members and guests sat in a semicircle in front of a decoration made mainly of oranges and other fruits, symbolising an abundant table. Writer Kay Ganahl from Solingen and writer Anwar Alman, who lives in Düsseldorf, were among the German guests. Ganahl shared his childhood memories of Christmas in Solingen and read poems from his 2017 book "Dramatic Christmases".
Gholamreza Amani also contributed creatively to the festival, drawing from Persian poetic tradition and ancient Persian theater. He founded P.D. Shahin and assembled a multinational football team, serving as its coach. The Jalda Night, also known as the Jalda Festival, has non-Muslim origins and is celebrated by Persian communities around the world.
The Persian-German Cultural Exchange and Sports Club, active beyond Solingen for several years, organises such events to promote cultural understanding and community bonding among Persian diaspora and Germans. For more detailed information about the festival’s history, significance, and specific celebration by the club, further direct sources from the organisation or cultural studies on Jalda Night would be required.
- The Persian-German Cultural Exchange and Sports Club held the Jalda Night celebration within the Haus der Begegnung, a symbol of the festival's renewal of light and sun.
- Layla Yapichi, dressed in traditional costumes, along with other contributors, entertained the guests with traditional Persian songs, recitations, and performances.
- German guests, such as writer Kay Ganahl and Anwar Alman, joined the celebration, sharing their memories and poems about Christmas and winter festivals.
- Gholamreza Amani, the club's founder, expanded his cultural contributions beyond sports by infusing Persian poetic tradition and ancient theater into the Jalda Festival, an event celebrated by Persian communities worldwide, regardless of their religious beliefs.
