There are eleven holy days on
the Baha’i calendar, which is divided into 19 months of 19 days each
per year. On these days, Baha’is are urged to suspend work and school,
and spend the day with family and community. The remaining four
intercalary days (five in a leap year), called Ayyam-i-Ha, are set
aside for visits and gift-giving.
The
9 holy days when work should be suspended are:
• March 21, New Year (the vernal equinox, known as Naw-Ruz).
• April 21, First Day of Ridvan
• April 29, Ninth Day of Ridvan
• May 2, Twelfth Day of Ridvan
• May 23, Declaration of the Bab
• May 29, Ascension (Death) of Baha’u’llah
• July 9, Martyrdom of the Bab
• October 20, Birth of the Bab
• November 12, Birth of Baha’u’llah
The Ridvan festival (April 21-May 2) marks the anniversary of
Baha’u’llah’s first declaration of his mission in 1863.
The
other 2 holy days are considered minor holidays when work is not
suspended:
• Day of the Covenant: November 26.
• Passing of ‘Abdu’l-Baha: November 28.
