There are eleven holy days on
the Bahá'í calendar, which is divided into 19 months of 19 days each
per year. On these days, Bahá'ís 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 Ayyám-i-Há, 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-Rúz).
• April 21, First Day of Ridván
• April 29, Ninth Day of Ridván
• May 2, Twelfth Day of Ridván
• May 23, Declaration of the Báb
• May 29, Ascension (Death) of Bahá’u’lláh
• July 9, Martyrdom of the Báb
• October 20, Birth of the Báb
• November 12, Birth of Bahá’u’lláh
The Ridván festival (April 21-May 2) marks the anniversary of
Bahá’u’lláh’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-Bahá: November 28.
