The Baháʼí Faith has eleven holy days, which are important anniversaries in the history of the religion. On nine of these holy days, work is suspended.[1] There is no fixed format for any of the holy days, and Baháʼí communities organize their own commemorative meetings.[2]
All but two of the holy days are scheduled annually on fixed dates in the Baháʼí calendar. The Twin Holy Birthdays are scheduled annually according to a lunar calculation.[3]
Besides the eleven holy days, Baháʼís also celebrate Ayyám-i-Há, a period of several extra days in the calendar (followed by the Nineteen Day Fast).
Table of dates
edit| Year | Naw-Rúz | 1st day of Ridván | 9th day of Ridván | 12th day of Ridván | Declaration of the Báb | Ascension of Bahá'u'lláh | Martyrdom of the Báb | Birth of the Báb | Birth of Bahá'u'lláh | Day of the Covenant | Ascension of ʻAbdu'l-Bahá |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 21 Mar | 21 Apr | 29 Apr | 2 May | 24 May | 29 May | 10 Jul | 26 Oct | 27 Oct | 26 Nov | 28 Nov |
| 2023 | 21 Mar | 21 Apr | 29 Apr | 2 May | 24 May | 29 May | 10 Jul | 16 Oct | 17 Oct | 26 Nov | 28 Nov |
| 2024 | 20 Mar | 20 Apr | 28 Apr | 1 May | 23 May | 28 May | 9 Jul | 2 Nov | 3 Nov | 25 Nov | 27 Nov |
| 2025 | 20 Mar | 20 Apr | 28 Apr | 1 May | 23 May | 28 May | 9 Jul | 22 Oct | 23 Oct | 25 Nov | 27 Nov |
| 2026 | 21 Mar | 21 Apr | 29 Apr | 2 May | 24 May | 29 May | 10 Jul | 10 Nov | 11 Nov | 26 Nov | 28 Nov |
| 2027 | 21 Mar | 21 Apr | 29 Apr | 2 May | 24 May | 29 May | 10 Jul | 30 Oct | 31 Oct | 26 Nov | 28 Nov |
| 2028 | 20 Mar | 20 Apr | 28 Apr | 1 May | 23 May | 28 May | 9 Jul | 19 Oct | 20 Oct | 25 Nov | 27 Nov |
| 2029 | 20 Mar | 20 Apr | 28 Apr | 1 May | 23 May | 28 May | 9 Jul | 7 Nov | 8 Nov | 25 Nov | 27 Nov |
| Name[2] | Date on the Bahá'í calendar | Number of Days after Naw-Rúz | Usual date on the Gregorian Calendar Naw-Rúz 20 March/Naw-Rúz 21 March |
Special time of celebration or commemoration[2] | Work Suspended[2] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Naw-Rúz (Baháʼí New Year) | Bahá 1 | March 20/21 | - | Yes | |
| First day of Riḍván | Jalál 13 | 31 | April 20/21 | 3 p.m. (Standard Time) | Yes |
| Ninth day of Riḍván | Jamál 2 | 39 | April 28/29 | - | Yes |
| Twelfth day of Riḍván | Jamál 5 | 42 | May 1/2 | - | Yes |
| Declaration of the Báb | ʻAẓamat 8 | 64 | May 23/24 | 2 hours after sunset on preceding day | Yes |
| Ascension of Baháʼu'lláh | ʻAẓamat 13 | 69 | May 28/29 | 3 a.m. (Standard Time) | Yes |
| Martyrdom of the Báb | Raḥmat 17 | 111 | July 9/10 | 12 noon | Yes |
| Birth of the Báb | First of the Twin Holy Birthdays; celebrated on the first day after the eighth new moon following Naw-Rúz (mid-October to mid-November)[3] | - | Yes | ||
| Birth of Baháʼu'lláh | Second of the Twin Holy Birthdays; celebrated on the second day after the eighth new moon following Naw-Rúz (mid-October to mid-November)[3] | - | Yes | ||
| Day of the Covenant | Qawl 4 | 250 | November 25/26 | - | No |
| Ascension of ʻAbdu'l-Bahá | Qawl 6 | 252 | November 27/28 | 1 a.m. (Standard Time) | No |
Historical dates
edit| Name[2] | Gregorian Dates[2] |
|---|---|
| Naw-Rúz (Baháʼí New Year) | March 21 |
| First day of Riḍván | April 21 |
| Ninth day of Riḍván | April 29 |
| Twelfth day of Riḍván | May 2 |
| Declaration of the Báb | May 24 |
| Ascension of Baháʼu'lláh | May 29 |
| Martyrdom of the Báb | July 10 |
| Birth of the Báb | October 20 |
| Birth of Baháʼu'lláh | November 12 |
| Day of the Covenant | November 26 |
| Ascension of ʻAbdu'l-Bahá | November 28 |
Holy Days of the Bahá’í calendar
editGeneral holy days
editNaw-Rúz
editAnnually on Bahá 1. Naw-Rúz marks the beginning of spring.
The Birth of the Báb
editAnnually in October or November. The Báb was born two years after Baháʼu'lláh, on the first of the Twin Holy Birthdays.
Declaration of the Báb
editAnnually on ʻAẓamat 8. See Declaration of the Bab to Mullá Husayn
Martyrdom of the Báb
editAnnually on Raḥmat 17. See Martyrdom of the Báb
Holy days associated with Baháʼu'lláh
editThe Birth of Baháʼu'lláh
editAnnually in October or November. Baháʼu'lláh was born on the second of the Twin Holy Birthdays. See also: Birth of Baháʼu'lláh.
Festival of Ridván
editThe Festival of Ridván, a twelve-day festival that commemorates Baháʼu'lláh's announcement to be the Manifestation of God, is the most holy Baháʼí festival to which Baháʼu'lláh referred as the "Most Great Festival."[5] The first, ninth and twelfth days of the festival are celebrated as holy days.
Annually on Jalál 13, Jamál 2 and Jamál 5.
See Festival of Ridván.
Ascension of Baháʼu'lláh
editAnnually on ʻAẓamat 13.
Holy days associated with ʻAbdu'l-Bahá
editOn these two holy days, the suspension of work is not required.
Day of the Covenant
editAnnually on Qawl 4. See Day of the Covenant
Ascension of ʻAbdu'l-Bahá
editAnnually on Qawl 6. See Ascension of ʻAbdu'l-Bahá
Twin Holy Birthdays
editThe Twin Holy Birthdays of the Báb and Baháʼu'lláh are celebrated on the first and second day following the eighth new moon after Naw-Rúz.[3][6] (In the Islamic lunar calendar, the births of the Báb and Baháʼu'lláh fell on consecutive days - the first and second day of Muharram, respectively, two years apart.[2][7])
See Twin Holy Birthdays and Birth of Baháʼu'lláh.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ National Spiritual Assembly of the United States (2006-03-05). "The Badi Calendar" (PDF). bahai.us. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 September 2006. Retrieved 2006-09-23.
- ^ a b c d e f g Smith, Peter (2000). "holy days". A concise encyclopedia of the Baháʼí Faith. Oxford: Oneworld Publications. pp. 182–183. ISBN 1-85168-184-1.
- ^ a b c d The Universal House of Justice (2014-07-10). "To the Baháʼís of the World". Retrieved 2014-07-10.
- ^ Universal House of Justice (2014-07-10). "Regarding the Implementation of the Badi` Calendar". Retrieved 2024-03-13.
- ^ Walbridge, John (2003-10-02). "Ridvan". Retrieved 2006-09-23 – via Baháʼí Library Online.
- ^ Momen, Moojan (2014). The Badíʻ (Baháʼí) Calendar: An Introduction Archived 2015-01-11 at the Wayback Machine.
- ^ Taherzadeh, Adib (1987). The Revelation of Baháʼu'lláh, Volume 4: Mazra'ih & Bahji 1877-92. Oxford, UK: George Ronald. p. 334. ISBN 0-85398-270-8.
Further reading
editExternal links
edit- Baháʼí Dates 172 to 221 B.E. (2015 – 2065; prepared by the Baháʼí World Centre) (pdf)
- Feasts & Holy Days (dynamic display of Holy Days, adjusted by year for your position - correct before and after 2015)
- Related documents on Baháʼí Library Online