Celebrating Religious Holidays: A Baha'i Perspective

Throughout my life, the joy of celebrating religious holidays with family has been a cherished tradition. However, as life has taken my immediate family apart, the way we celebrate these holidays has evolved. Recently, my family has been Baha'is, and we have embraced many Baha'i holidays with meaningful activities and gatherings.

As Baha'is, we observe eleven Holy Days that are significant to our faith. Among the most cherished is Naw-Ruz, the Baha'i New Year. This holiday marks the first day of spring and is filled with joyous celebrations. Last year, we had a picnic in a nearby park to mark the occasion and welcome the sunny days ahead.

Another important holiday is Ridvan, the feast of fifteen days during which Baha'u'llah was first proclaimed as the Promised One. The ninth day and the twelfth day of Ridvan are particularly significant, which we celebrated with prayers and readings in the park.

One year, we felt a desire to share our joy with others. We invited people from the park to join us and enjoy the delicious food we prepared. Sharing our faith with others is an essential part of our belief, and it's important to us to welcome all who are interested.

We also celebrate other holidays, such as Christmas, with our Christian relatives. This blend of traditions has created a unique family atmosphere, bringing together different cultural and religious backgrounds under one roof.

Below is a chart of our Baha'i Holy Days, along with their Bahá'í and Gregorian dates:

Bahá'í Holy Day Bahá'í Date Gregorian Date Naw-Ruz 1 Bahá March 21 First Day of Ridvan 13 Jalál April 21 Ninth Day of Ridvan 2 Jamál April 29 Twelfth Day of Ridvan 5 Jamál May 2 Declaration of the Bab 7 Azamat May 23 Ascension of Bahaullah 13 Azamat May 29 Martyrdom of the Bab 16 Rahmat July 9 Birth of the Bab 5 Ilm October 20 Birth of Bahaullah 9 Qudrat November 12 Day of the Covenant 4 Qawl November 26 Ascension of Abdul-Baha 6 Qawl November 28

At Baha'i gatherings, we always ensure that everyone is welcome, no matter their background or beliefs. Some years, we’ve even invited people from the nearby park to join us and share in our festivities. This inclusive approach is part of our core principles, as we believe in the unity of humanity.

As a family spread across the globe, our celebrations are a way to stay connected and honor the traditions and holidays that have been a part of our lives. Sharing these moments with others helps to strengthen our community and enrich our lives.

If you're interested in learning more about the Baha'i faith or would like to participate in a Baha'i gathering, we’d be honored to have you join us. Our celebrations are open to everyone, and we welcome the opportunity to share our beliefs and traditions with you.

Stay tuned for updates on our future celebrations and events, and join us in spreading joy and unity through Baha'i traditions.