Bahá’í Calendar & Holy Days
The Bahá’i calendar, which sets the rhythm for Bahá’i community life, was inaugurated in 1844 with the declaration of the Bab, the Prophet-Herald of the Bahá’i Faith. The year consists of 19 months of 19 days each (361 days), with the addition of “Intercalary Days” between the eighteenth and nineteenth months to adjust the calendar to the solar year. The months are named after the attributes of God (in order of Arabic name, English translation and Gregorian Dates):
Bahá — Splendour — 21 March to 8 April
Jalál — Glory — 9 April to 27 April
Jamál — Beauty — 28 April to 16 May
‘Aẓamat — Grandeur — 17 May to 4 June
Núr — Light — 5 June to 23 June
Raḥmat — Mercy — 24 June to 12 July
Kalimát — Words — 13 July to 31 July
Kamál — Perfection — 1 August to 19 August
Asmá’ — Names — 20 August to 7 September
‘Izzat — Might — 8 September to 26 September
Mashíyyat — Will — 27 September to 15 October
‘Ilm — Knowledge — 16 October to 3 November
Qudrat — Power — 4 November to 22 November
Qawl — Speech — 23 November to 11 December
Masá’il — Questions — 12 December to 30 December
Sharaf — Honour — 31 December to 18 January
Sulṭán — Sovereignty — 19 January to 6 February
Mulk — Dominion — 7 February to 25 February
Ayyám-i-Há — The Days of Há (Intercalary Days) — 26 February to 1 March
‘Alá’ — Loftiness — 2 March – 20 March (Month of fasting)
A Nineteen Day Fast is held during the final month of ‘Alá’ (2 March to 20 March), and is preceded by the intercalary days, known as Ayyám-i-Há. There are four intercalary days in a regular year, and five in a leap year. The month of fasting is followed by Naw-Rúz, the new year, which coincides with the March equinox (March 21).
Holy Days
Naw-Rúz (March 21): The Bahá’i New Year’s Day coincides with the spring equinox. Naw-Ruz is an ancient Persian festival celebrating the ”new day” and for Bahá’is it marks the end of the annual 19-day Fast.
Festival of Ridvan (April 21-May 2): The annual Bahá’i festival commemorates the 12 days (April 21-May 2, 1863) when Baha’u’llah, the founder of the Bahá’i Faith, resided in a garden called Ridvan (pronounced “riz-wan”) which means “Paradise” in Baghdad, Iraq. At this time He publicly proclaimed His mission as God’s messenger for this age. The first (April 21), ninth (April 29) and twelfth (May 2) days are celebrated as holy days.
Declaration of the Bab (May 23): The Bahá’i commemorates the day in 1844, when the Bab, the herald of the Bahá’iFaith, announced in Shiraz, Persia (now Iran), 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.
Ascension of Baha’u’llah (May 29): Bahá’is observe the anniversary of the death in exile of Baha’u’llah, the founder of the Bahá’i Faith, on May 29, 1892, outside Akko (also known as Akka or Acre), in what is now northern Israel.
Martyrdom of the Bab (July 9): The holy day commemorates the anniversary of the execution of the Bab (Siyyid ‘Ali-Muhammad), the herald of the Bahá’i Faith, by a firing squad on July 9, 1850, in Tabriz, Persia (now Iran).
Birth of the Bab (Oct. 20): The day is an observance of the anniversary of the birth on Oct. 20, 1819, in Shiraz, Persia (now Iran), of Siyyid ‘Ali-Muhammad, who later took the title of “the Bab,” meaning “the Gate.” The Bab was the herald of the Bahá’i Faith.
Birth of Baha’u’llah (Nov. 12): Bahá’is observe the anniversary of the birth of Baha’u’llah (born Mirza Husayn-‘Ali) on Nov. 12, 1817, in Tehran, Persia (now Iran). Baha’u’llah, which means the “Glory of God,” is the founder of the Bahá’i Faith.
Day of the Covenant (Nov. 26): The festival commemorates Baha’u’llah’s appointment of his eldest son, ‘Abdu’l-Baha, as the Center of His Covenant.
Ascension of ‘Abdu’l-Baha (Nov 28): Baha’is observe the anniversary of the death of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, son of Baha’u'llah and His appointed succesor, on Nov 28, 1921 in Haifa, in what is now northern Israel.
