The Baháʼí Faith has eleven holy days, which are important anniversaries in the history of the religion. On nine of these holy days, work is suspended.[1] There is no fixed format for any of the holy days, and Baháʼí communities organize their own commemorative meetings.[2]
All but two of the holy days are scheduled annually on fixed dates in the Baháʼí calendar. The Twin Holy Birthdays are scheduled annually according to a lunar calculation.
Besides the eleven holy days, Baháʼís also celebrate Ayyám-i-Há, a period of several extra days in the calendar (followed by the Nineteen Day Fast).
| Name | Number of Days after Naw-Rúz | Usual date on the Gregorian Calendar Naw-Rúz 20 March/Naw-Rúz 21 March | Special time of celebration or commemoration | Work Suspended | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Naw-Rúz (Baháʼí New Year) | Bahá 1 | March 20/21 | - | Yes | |
| Jalál 13 | 31 | April 20/21 | 3 p.m. (Standard Time) | Yes | |
| Ninth day of Riḍván | Jamál 2 | 39 | April 28/29 | - | Yes |
| Twelfth day of Riḍván | Jamál 5 | 42 | May 1/2 | - | Yes |
| ʻAẓamat 8 | 64 | May 23/24 | 2 hours after sunset on preceding day | Yes | |
| ʻAẓamat 13 | 69 | May 28/29 | 3 a.m. (Standard Time) | Yes | |
| Raḥmat 17 | 111 | July 9/10 | 12 noon | Yes | |
| Birth of the Báb | First of the Twin Holy Birthdays; celebrated on the first day after the eighth new moon following Naw-Rúz (mid-October to mid-November) | - | Yes | ||
| Second of the Twin Holy Birthdays; celebrated on the second day after the eighth new moon following Naw-Rúz (mid-October to mid-November) | - | Yes | |||
| Qawl 4 | 250 | November 25/26 | - | No | |
| Qawl 6 | 252 | November 27/28 | 1 a.m. (Standard Time) | No | |
| Name | Gregorian Dates |
|---|---|
| Naw-Rúz (Baháʼí New Year) | March 21 |
| April 21 | |
| Ninth day of Riḍván | April 29 |
| Twelfth day of Riḍván | May 2 |
| May 24 | |
| May 29 | |
| July 10 | |
| Birth of the Báb | October 20 |
| November 12 | |
| November 26 | |
| November 28 | |
Annually on Bahá 1. Naw-Rúz marks the beginning of spring.
Annually in October or November. The Báb was born two years after Baháʼu'lláh, on the first of the Twin Holy Birthdays.
Annually on ʻAẓamat 8. See Declaration of the Bab to Mullá Husayn
Annually on Raḥmat 17. See Martyrdom of the Báb
Annually in October or November. Baháʼu'lláh was born on the second of the Twin Holy Birthdays. See also: Birth of Baha'u'llah.
The Festival of Ridván, a twelve-day festival that commemorates Baháʼu'lláh's announcement to be the Manifestation of God, is the most holy Baháʼí festival to which Baháʼu'lláh referred as the "Most Great Festival."[3] The first, ninth and twelfth days of the festival are celebrated as holy days.
Annually on Jalál 13, Jamál 2 and Jamál 5.
See Festival of Ridván.
Annually on ʻAẓamat 13.
On these two holy days, the suspension of work is not required.
Annually on Qawl 4. See Day of the Covenant
Annually on Qawl 6. See Ascension of ʻAbdu'l-Bahá
The Twin Holy Birthdays of the Báb and Baháʼu'lláh are celebrated on the first and second day following the eighth new moon after Naw-Rúz.[4] [5] (In the Islamic lunar calendar, the births of the Báb and Baháʼu'lláh fell on consecutive days - the first and second day of Muharram, respectively, two years apart.[6] [7])
See Twin Holy Birthdays and Birth of Baha'u'llah.