Personal reflections on Bahá'í holy days

Personal reflections on Bahá'í holy days

This passage has always represented to me the undogmatic spirit of the Bahá'í Faith.

The moment you open your mouth to say a prayer, whether alone at home, or with a few friends, or with a congregation of hundreds at the National Bahá'í Temple in Wilmette, Illinois, that very spot becomes a sacred space for worship of God.

It is this attitude toward worship, with an emphasis on personal initiative and responsibility that reflects the Bahá'í Faith's lack of ritual. This is perhaps especially apparent in the celebration of Bahá'í holy days.

Some of the holidays are festive and celebratory such as the Birth of Bahá'u'lláh, the prophet/founder of the Bahá'í Faith, on the 12th of November.

The same is true for Ayyam-I-Ha, February 26 - March 1, days set aside for hospitality, gift-giving and special acts of charity in preparation for the period of fasting that immediately follows.

Other holidays are solemn occasions, such as the Ascension of Bahá'u'lláh, who passed away at approximately 3:00 A.M. on May 29, 1892 near Akká, Israel. These holidays are observed appropriately with quiet respect and dignity.

Naw-Rúz (New Year's Day)

Bahá'ís all around the world celebrate Naw-Rúz (New Year's Day) on March 21, the first day of Spring.

In northern New Jersey, hundreds of Bahá'ís celebrated the New Year together with dinner, music, and dancing, a chance to see old friends and chat about the kids ("Has another year gone by already?!").

The world over, each Bahá'í community decides how best to celebrate within its own locality and culture. I am certain that no two Naw-Rúz celebrations in the world are identical, whether in Teaneck, New Jersey; Los Angeles, California; Haifa, Israel; or Tokyo, Japan; but each will bring in the Bahá'í New Year with joy, hospitality, and a spirit of unity.

Ridván

One of my favorite experiences of a holy day celebration was the Ridván Festival I attended at the Evergreen Cabin at the Wilhelm Bahá'í Properties in Teaneck, New Jersey.

This twelve-day period (April 21 - May 2) celebrates the time in 1863 when Bahá'u'lláh proclaimed His Mission as God's Messenger for this age at a garden in Baghdad, that became known as the Garden of Ridván (Paradise).

At the particular celebration I attended, the walls and even the windows were draped in white muslin, to represent an outdoor canopy. All the chairs had been removed; people sat on the carpeted floor on cushions and pillows.

The scent of rose-water filled the air as children and youth read from first-hand accounts of the early Bahá'í as they had experienced that historic day in 1863. To me, the children's reading and prayers were especially touching.

Involving children

The children's involvement in Bahá'í holy day celebrations is always important.

In the past, my wife Janelle has worked with our children to bake cookies to give away on Ayyam-I-Ha. A plate of vanilla, peanut-butter, and chocolate cookies in the shape of hands are made to represent the various hues of mankind in a circle of racial harmony. Sometimes it is something very simple that can give a holiday meaning and significance to the children.

Bahá'í identity and Christmas

It isn't always easy to nurture a sense of Bahá'í identity within a community.

The Christmas season can be particularly challenging for the Bahá'í parents with children. It may be a bit overwhelming, especially when, according to television commercials and magazine ads, the true spirit of Christmas seems to be: "Shop! Shop! Shop!"

This is why, every year, my wife and I sit down with our children to retell the Christmas story of the birth of Jesus Christ.

I suspect that for Christian parents, the challenge is very similar. In our consumer society that threatens to separate Jesus and all signs of spirituality from Christmas, we must make extra efforts to exemplify in our lives and those of our children that the true spirit of the season is kindness, generosity, hospitality, and the love and unity of mankind.

Written by Gary Heise for the Bergen Record. Gary Heise lives in West Milford, New Jersey with his wife Janelle, and two children, George and Megan. The BBC is grateful to him for his permission to reproduce this article.

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