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Holidays and Festivals Around the World
Baha’i
The Baha’i faith is the youngest of the world religions. It was founded in 1863 by Bahá’u’lláh, who declared that He was the Messenger of God. His coming was predicted by Bab who in 1844 announced that He was the Herald of the Messenger of God.
There are currently around seven million followers of the Baha’i faith. They believe in one God and unity of the entire human race. Their fundamental principles are elimination of all forms of prejudice; full equality between the sexes; recognition of the essential oneness of the world’s great religions; the elimination of extremes of poverty and wealth; universal education; the harmony of science and religion; a sustainable balance between nature and technology; and the establishment of a world federal system, based on collective security and the oneness of humanity as stated on the official Baha’i website http://www.bahai.org/.
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| January 21 | World Religion Day |
A day established in 1950 dedicated to unity and oneness of all world religions |
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| March 2 - 20 | 19 Day Fast |
All Baha’is between 15 and 70 years fast, meaning they do not eat or drink, for nineteen days between sunrise and sunset. Time is set aside each day for prayer and meditation. There are exceptions for the fast. These include illness, pregnancy, nursing mothers, extended travel and arduous physical labor. |
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| March 21 | Naw-Rúz |
Baha’i New Year’s Day, falls on the spring equinox. |
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| April 21 - May 2 | Festival of Ridvan |
A twelve day festival which commemorates when the prophet-founder Baha’u’llah declared his mission as a messenger from God in the garden of Ridvan (Paradise) in Baghdad, Iraq. The first, ninth and twelfth days are celebrated as holy days. |
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| May 23 | Declaration of the Bab |
The commemoration of the date on which the Bab, the prophet-herald announced that he was the herald of a new messenger of God. |
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| May 29 | Ascension of Baha’u’llah | Anniversary of Baha'u'llah's death in 1892. |
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| June 10 | Race Unity Day |
A day promoting racial harmony and understanding and the essential unity of humanity. |
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| July 9 | Martyrdom of Bab |
Anniversary of the Bab’s execution by firing squad in 1850 in Tabriz, Persia. |
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| October 20 | Birth of the Bab |
Celebrates the birth of Bab in 1819. Bab was the prophet-herald of the Baha’i Faith. |
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| November 12 | Birth of Baha’u’llah |
Celebrates the birth in 1817 of the founder of the Baha'i faith, Baha’u’llah |
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| November 26 | Day of the Covenant | Festival that observes the appointment by Baha’u’llah of his eldest son 'Abdu'l-Bahá to be the Center of His Covenant. The Covenant was established by Baha’u’llah to safeguard the unity of the Baha’i community. | |
| November 28 | Ascension of Abdu'l-Baha |
Anniversary of 'Abdu'l-Bahá's death | |
| *Holidays in bold are the most important holidays. | |||
Last Updated: 18-Mar-2008
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