The Bahá'í Calendar and Holy Days
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 Bahá'í calendar, whose origins date back to the ministry of the Báb (1844-1853), and ratified by Bahá'u'lláh, is a solar calendar divided into nineteen months of nineteen days each. It's also known as the Badi` [Unique or Wonderful] calendar. The Baha'i year commences on March 21st, the first day of Spring.
On the first day of every month, Bahá'í 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.
Bahá'í months and days of the week are named after attributes of God. The Bahá'í week begins on Jalál which corresponds to Saturday in the Gregorian calendar. Because the Bahá'í calendar is a solar calendar, the days begin and end at sunset. The following is a list of the nineteen months in the Bahá'í year:
| Month | Arabic Name | Translation | First Days |
| 1st Month | Bahá | Splendour | March 21 |
| 2nd Month | Jalál | Glory | April 9 |
| 3rd Month | Jamál | Beauty | April 28 |
| 4th Month | `Azamat | Grandeur | May 17 |
| 5th Month | Núr | Light | June 5 |
| 6th Month | Rahmat | Mercy | June 24 |
| 7th Month | Kalimát | Words | July 13 |
| 8th Month | Kamál | Perfection | August 1 |
| 9th Month | Asmá' | Names | August 20 |
| 10th Month | 'Izzat | Might | September 8 |
| 11th Month | Mashíyyat | Will | September 27 |
| 12th Month | 'Ilm | Knowledge | October 16 |
| 13th Month | Qudrat | Power | November 4 |
| 14th Month | Qawl | Speech | November 23 |
| 15th Month | Masá'il | Questions | December 12 |
| 16th Month | Sharaf | Honour | December 31 |
| 17th Month | Sultán | Sovereignty | January 19 |
| 18th Month | Mulk | Dominion | February 7 |
| 19th Month | 'Alá' | Loftiness | March 2 |
In order to complete the three hundred and sixty-five day cycle in
the year (including changes associated with leap years) there are four
or five intercalary days from February 26th to March 1st inclusive,
preceding the last Bahá'í month. The Intercalary Days,
called Ayyám-i-Há (Arabic for four days), are not considered as part of
any month.
The days of the week are:
| Day | Arabic Name | Translation |
| Saturday | Jalál | Glory |
| Sunday | Jamál | Beauty |
| Monday | Kamál | Perfection |
| Tuesday | Fidál | Grace |
| Wednesday | 'Idál | Justice |
| Thursday | Istulál | Majesty |
| Friday | Istiqlál | Independence |
Holy Days:
During the year there are nine Holy Days during which Bahá'í's do not
work. These days mark the key anniversaries of the Central Figures of
the Faith. Listed below are the Bahá'í Holy Days:
| Naw Rúz (New Year's Day) | March 21 |
| 1st Day of Ridván | April 21 |
| 9th Day of Ridván | 2 April 29 |
| 12th Day of Ridván | May 2 |
| Declaration of The Báb | May 23 |
| Ascension of Bahá'u'lláh | May 29 |
| Martyrdom of The Báb | July 9 |
| The Birth of the Báb | October 20 |
| The Birth of Bahá'u'lláh | November 12 |
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 Bahá | November 28 |
