Yalda Night - Brief

Yalda Night is the first book in a planned four-part series that celebrates Persian traditions through bilingual storytelling, visual design, and interactive learning. Focused on Shab-e Yalda, the Persian winter solstice celebration, this children’s book preserves cultural identity while sparking joy and curiosity for younger generations.

The series is designed to reconnect children—especially those in the diaspora—with their roots, while giving parents and grandparents meaningful tools to pass down stories, symbols, and rituals in a playful, visual way.

Yalda Night - Problem

In post-revolution Iran, my generation grew up with limited access to historical facts or mythology surrounding Persian celebrations. Over time, many of these rich traditions—like Yalda, Nowruz, Mehregan, and Sadeh—became simplified or politically erased.

Meanwhile, older generations who still hold this knowledge often struggle to share it with their grandchildren in ways that are engaging, age-appropriate, and culturally resonant in the modern world. I created Yalda Night to bridge this generational and cultural gap—reviving what was nearly forgotten and making it accessible across borders and languages.

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Yalda Night - Solution

Yalda Night blends illustrated storytelling, cultural education, and interactive activities to create a rich, memorable experience. The book includes:

• A short story that captures the cozy magic of Yalda night in a multigenerational Persian family
• Mythological and historical references such as Mithra, Hafez, and Shahnameh (The Book of Kings)
• Coloring pages in story format, allowing children to engage actively as they learn
• A shadow puppet cut-out set for family storytelling and Yalda night reenactments
• Bilingual text in Persian and English to support language preservation and inclusivity

Design Elements

• Format: 8.5 x 8.5" bilingual softcover, print-ready for Amazon & Etsy
• Color palette: Deep reds and warm candlelight yellows symbolizing hope and warmth
• Visual inspiration: Persian miniatures, traditional textiles, and solstice symbolism
• Typography: Blends Farsi script and child-friendly serif/sans-serif English fonts
• Interactive components: Shadow puppets, coloring pages, fortune telling with Hafez

Impact

While Yalda Night hasn’t yet received formal awards or institutional recognition, it has been admired by families and educators in the Persian community for its emotional depth, visual richness, and ability to make tradition feel personal again.

This book has already started conversations within immigrant households—inviting elders to share their memories and children to explore their identity in joyful, hands-on ways. It’s a seed for healing generational disconnect and celebrating Persian heritage with pride.

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Personal Reflection

This project is the heart of everything I stand for as a designer, storyteller, and mother. Yalda Night gave me the chance to turn personal memory into collective celebration—a creative act of resistance against cultural erasure, and a gift for my children and all others seeking light in the dark.

As I tell my children: "Even in the longest night, we bring our own light."
This book is a reminder of that light.

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