Calendar:
Every major religion, and the ensuing civilization it spawned, has its own special calendar which organizes and charts the activities of its adherents during the year. The Baha'i calendar, whose origins date back to the ministry of the Bab (1844-1853), and ratified by Baha'u'llah, is a solar calendar divided into nineteen months of nineteen days each. It's also known as the Badi Calendar. The Baha'i year commences on March 21st, the first day of Spring.
On the first day of every Baha'i month, Baha'i communities gather together in a worship service known as Feast. During this gathering of prayer, fellowship and consultation, the spiritual and social affairs of the community are addressed. It is more a spiritual dinner than a physical one, although light refreshments are served at the end, the social portion of the Feast.
Baha'i months and days of the week are named after attributes of God. The Baha'i week begins on Saturday (Gregorian) Because the Baha'i calendar is a solar calendar, the days begin and end at sunset. The following is a list of the nineteen months in the Baha'i year: 1
| Month | Arabic Name | Translation | First Days |
| 1st Month | Baha | Splendour | March 21 |
| 2nd Month | Jalal | Glory | April 9 |
| 3rd Month | Jamal | Beauty | April 28 |
| 4th Month | 'Azamat | Grandeur | May 17 |
| 5th Month | Nur | Light | June 5 |
| 6th Month | Rahmat | Mercy | June 24 |
| 7th Month | Kalimat | Words | July 13 |
| 8th Month | Kamal | Perfection | August 1 |
| 9th Month | Asma | Names | August 20 |
| 10th Month | 'Izzat | Might | September 8 |
| 11th Month | Mashiyyat | Will | September 27 |
| 12th Month | 'Ilm | Knowledge | October 16 |
| 13th Month | Qudrat | Power | November 4 |
| 14th Month | Qawl | Speech | November 23 |
| 15th Month | Masa'il | Questions | December 12 |
| 16th Month | Sharaf | Honour | December 31 |
| 17th Month | Sultan | Sovereignty | January 19 |
| 18th Month 1 | Mulk | Dominion | February 7 |
| 19th Month | 'Ala | Loftiness | March 2 |
1. In order to complete the three hundred and sixty-five day cycle in the year (including changes associated with leap years) there are four intercalary days from February 26th to March 1st inclusive, preceding the last Baha'i month, which is a fasting month. Fasting is from sunrise to sunset, when abstention takes place from all food and drink. The Intercalary Days, called Ayyam-i-Ha, are set aside, and not considered as part of any month.
The days of the week are:
| Day | Arabic Name | Translation |
| Saturday | Jalal | Glory |
| Sunday | Jamal | Beauty |
| Monday | Kamal | Perfection |
| Tuesday | Fidal | Grace |
| Wednesday | 'Idal | Justice |
| Thursday | Istulal | Majesty |
| Friday | Istiqlal | Independence |
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Holy Days:
During the year there are nine Holy Days during which Baha'i's do not work. These days mark the key anniversaries of the Central Figures of the Faith. Listed below are the Baha'i Holy Days:
Naw Ruz (New Year's Day) March 21 1st Day of Ridvan April 21 9th Day of Ridvan 2 April 29 12th Day of Ridvan May 2 Declaration of The Bab May 23 Ascension of Baha'u'llah May 29 Martyrdom of The Bab July 9 The Birth of the Bab October 20 The Birth of Baha'u'llah November 12 2. Declaration of Baha'u'llah in the Garden of Ridvan (Paradise).
In addition to the above Holy Days, there are two days that are considered Holy Days on which work is not suspended. These days are:
The Day of The Covenant November 26 The Passing of 'Abdu'l Baha November 28 Special Event Days:
Race Unity Day June 11, 2006 International Day of Peace September 21, 2006 Universal Children's Day November 20, 2006 United Nations Day October 24, 2006 United Nations Human Rights Day December 10, 2006 World Religion Day 3 January 15, 2006 3. Established by the National Spiritual Assembly, but increasingly observed by non-Baha'i individuals and organizations.
Ayyam-i-Ha (Intercalary Days):
February 26 to March 1. The four days (five in a leap year) before the last month of the Baha'i year. The Ayyam-i-Ha are devoted to spiritual preparation for the fast, and are a time of hospitality, charity and gift giving.
This page last updated on: Wednesday, January 11, 2006