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4. Observance of Holy Days
The Baha’ Faith, like all other religions, has a number of holy days. Many of them commemorate important events in the early history of the Faith, usually events in the life of the Bab or Baha’u’Ilah.
If at all possible Baha’is do not work on the holy days. ‘Abdu’l-Baha has written, ‘‘Nine days in the year have been appointed on which work is forbidden.’’1* In this way one
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shows his respect for the Bab and Bahd’u’llah. Each Baha’i should explain the holy days to his employer and ask permission not to work on those days. Many employers are very under- standing and will allow Baha'is to stay away from work on holy days. If, however, an employer does not allow a Baha’i to take the day off, that person may work as usual. Bahda’is are not required to refrain from working if it means losing their jobs. Baha'i children should also seek permission to be excused from school on holy days.
Some of the holy days are joyous occasions. The birth of the Bab on October 20 and the birth of Baha’ u’ll4h on November 12 are times for great happiness. May 23 is the day when the Bab first announced His mission to the world in 1844. This was the beginning of the Baha’i Era. Baha’u’Ildh first declared that He was the Promised One during a twelve-day period in 1863. During that time Baha’u’Ilah and His followers were gathered in a spot which He named Ridvan, or Paradise. Thus these twelve days are called Ridvan. Three of them are celebrated as holy days—April 21, April 29, and May 2.
Another holy day is Naw-Ruz, the Baha’i new year. It is celebrated on March 21, which is both the first day of spring and the first day of the year according to the calendar brought by the
Bab. Naw-Ruz is a festive occasion marking the end of the nineteen-day fast and reminding one of the springtime in which God periodically sends a new Manifestation to guide mankind.
Some holy days are very solemn occasions. On July 9 Baha’is pause to remember the Martyrdom of the Bab. On that day the Bab was shot and killed on government orders. He had commit- ted no crime. He was simply bringing new Teachings from God and telling people to turn toward justice. Another solemn holy day is May 29, the anniversary of Bahda’u’llah’s passing.
Holy days can be observed in many ways. It is a duty of the Local Spiritual Assembly to see that some activity is planned for the believers. On the joyous holy days the community may arrange for prayers and a picnic or a public meeting, or for a service project or a children’s party. The community should remember solemn holy days with a quiet observance, including prayers and meditations.
In some ways the Baha’i holy days are like the holy days in other religions. For example, the Christians celebrate the birth of Christ at Christmas and remember His death at Easter. They usually do not work on those two days. In a similar manner Baha’ is remember the important events in the lives of the Bab and Baha’u’llah and mark other special occasions; and they do not work on those days. Parties and gift-giving occur during Intercalary Days, which last from February 26 to March 1. These days are devoted to hospitality, charity, and the giving of presents. Naw-Ruz, too, is a time for festive parties and for some a time of gift-giving.
