The Bahá'í Calendar
& Holy Days
The
Bahá'í Calendar
The Bahá'í calendar sets the rhythm of Bahá'í
community life. Bahá'ís follow a solar calendar containing 19 months of 19 days each,
with the required four (five in leap years) intercalary days, known as Ayyam-i-Ha, added
between the 18th and the 19th months to complete the 365 or 366 day solar year. Both
months and days are given Arabic names for attributes of God (e.g., Jamal, the name of the
third month means "Beauty"; Kamal, the eighth month, means
"Perfection"). On the first day of each month, the Bahá'í community gathers
for a spiritual feast of fellowship, unity and peace. The Bahá'í year begins on March 21
and the Bahá'í day begins at sunset.
According the Bahá'í
calendar, the year is 161 B.E. (Bahá'í Era). The Bahá'í year 161
B.E. (Bahá'í Era) began on March 21, 2004, according to the Gregorian
calendar. The Bahá'í era was inaugurated in 1844 with the declaration
of the Báb, regarded by Bahá'ís as the messenger of God who proclaimed
the closing of the present era and promised the coming of one
who would open the next era, fulfilled in the person of Bahá'u'lláh, the prophet for this age.
Bahá'í Holy Days
There are eleven Holy Days which Bahá'ís celebrate. On
all but two of these days, all work should cease. Some of the holy days are festive
celebrations (i.e., Naw-Rúz, Ridván,
and the anniversary of the Declaration of the Báb, the birth of Bahá'u'lláh and the Day
of the Covenant). On such occasions, we hold joyous
celebrations in our communities. Some holy days are solemn, commemorative occasions (i.e.,
the anniversaries of the Ascension of Bahá'u'lláh, the Martyrdom of the Báb, and the Ascension of 'Abdu'l-Bahá) On these
occasions, we hold quiet observances that include prayers and meditations.
The Holy Days are listed in chronological order according
to the Bahá'í calendar.
Summary of Bahá'í Holy Days
There are eleven Holy Days which Bahá'ís celebrate. On
all but two of these days, all work should cease and children are excused from school.
They are listed in chronological order according to the Bahá'í calendar.
March 21 - Naw Rúz
Coinciding with the first day of spring, Baha'is
celebrate their New Year, called Naw Rúz, on March 21. The Baha'i calendar, which sets the rhythm for
Baha'i community life, was inaugurated in 1844 with the declaration of the Bab, the
Prophet-Herald of the Baha'i Faith.
April 21 through May 2 - Ridván
The word Ridván (pronounced "riz-wan") means
"Paradise." For twelve days, April 21 to May 2, Baha'is celebrate the period in
1863 when Baha'u'llah, the Prophet-Founder of the Bahá'í Faith, resided in a garden in
Baghdad which He called "the Garden of Ridván ." During this
period, Baha'u'llah proclaimed His mission as God's messenger for this age.
April 21 - Festival of Ridván
April 29 - The Ninth Day of Ridván
May 2 - The Twelfth Day of Ridván
May 23 - Declaration
of the Báb
May 23, 1844 marks the beginnings of the Bahá'í Faith
in Shiraz, Persia (Iran). The Báb, which means the "Gate," proclaimed on that date that
He was not only the founder of an independent world religion, but the herald of a new and
greater prophet or messenger of God. This new messenger would usher in an age of peace for
all humanity.
May 29 - Ascension
of Bahá'u'lláh
On May 29, Bahá'u'lláh, Prophet-Founder of the
Bahá'í Faith, passed away in 1892 near Akka, Palastine (Israel).
July 9 - Martyrdom
of the Báb
On July 9, Bahá'ís commemorate the date on which the Báb was
executed in 1850 by a 750-man firing squad in Tabriz, Persia (Iran).
October 20 - Birth of the Báb
Bahá'ís commemorate the birth of the Báb (the
"Gate"), the Prophet-Herald of the Bahá'í Faith. In 1819, the Báb was born
in Shiraz, Persia (Iran).
November 12 - Birth of Bahá'u'lláh
Bahá'ís commemorate the birth of Bahá'u'lláh,
the Prophet-Founder of the Bahá'í Faith. In 1817, Bahá'u'lláh was born in Tehran,
Persia (Iran).
November 26 - Day of the Covenant (work
does not cease on this day)
This day is celebrated in lieu of the Birth of
'Abdu'l-Bahá, which falls on the same day as the Declaration of the Báb.
November 28 - Ascension of
'Abdu'l-Bahá (work does not
cease on this day)
Bahá'ís somberly commemorate the day in 1921 when
'Abdu'l-Bahá passed away.
Other Celebrations
February 25 through March 1 - Ayyam-i-Ha (Intercalary
Days)
The Bahá'í calendar is made up of 19 months of 19 days
each. The period of Ayyam-i-Ha adjusts the Bahá'í year to the solar cycle. These days
are set aside for hospitality, gift giving, special acts of charity, and preparing for the
Bahá'í Fast.
March 2 through March 19 - The Fast
This is a period of fasting where Bahá'ís do not eat or
drink water from sunrise to
sunset for a period of 19 days. The Fast is a special period during which Bahá'ís
set aside extra time for prayer and meditation. Children under the age of 15, individuals
who are ill, travelers, the elderly, pregnant women and nursing mothers are exempt from
the Fast.
The Faith is second only to Christianity in geographic
spread. About six million Baha’is reside in some 220 countries and islands. The
worldwide Baha’i community is not only one of the most widespread organizations on
earth, it is also among the most diverse. Followers come from more than 2,100 different
ethnic groups. Baha’i literature is printed in more than 800 languages. The Faith was
founded in 1863 by Baha’u’llah, whose name means "The Glory of God."
The Atlanta Bahá'í
Information Center
Office of Communications & Media Relations
Tel: 800-22-UNITE
E-mail: weare1@atlantabahai.org
URL: http://www.atlantabahai.org
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