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Twin Holy Birthdays

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Twin Holy Birthdays
Observed bythe Baháʼí Faith
TypeBaháʼí
DateFirst and second day after the eighth new moon following Baháʼí Naw-Rúz
2023 date16–17 October
2024 date2–3 November

The Festivals of the Twin Birthdays or the Twin Holy Birthdays refers to two successive holy days in the Baháʼí calendar that celebrate the births of two central figures of the Baháʼí Faith. The two holy days are the birth of the Báb on the first day of Muharram in the Islamic calendar (20 October 1819) and the birth of Baháʼu'lláh on the second day of Muharram (two years prior, on 12 November 1817).[1][2][3]

Observance

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They are observed on the first and the second day following the occurrence of the eighth new moon after Naw-Rúz, as determined in advance by astronomical tables using Tehran as the point of reference.[4] This results in the observance of the Twin Birthdays moving, year to year, within the months of Mashíyyat, ʻIlm, and Qudrat of the Baháʼí calendar, or from mid-October to mid-November in the Gregorian calendar.[5]

Ancient traditions

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Prior to 2015 and a decision by the Universal House of Justice, these two holy days had been observed on the first and second days of Muharram in the Islamic lunar calendar in the Middle East, while other countries observed them according to the Gregorian calendar on 20 October (for the birth of the Báb) and 12 November (for the birth of Baháʼu'lláh).[2]

Special celebrations

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On the occasion of the 200th anniversaries of the births of the Báb and Baháʼu'lláh in 2017 and 2019, special celebrations were organized worldwide.[6][7] In October 2017 the Universal House of Justice sent a letter to "all who celebrate the Glory of God", on the meaning of Baháʼu'lláh's life and current Baháʼí activities, inspired by the 200th anniversary of his birth.[8]

Dates

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Chart showing the fluctuations of the eighth new moon after Naw-Rúz (Baháʼí new year) marking the date of the Twin Holy Birthdays in the Baháʼí calendar, between 172 and 221 B.E. (2015–2065).[9]

Days in the Baha'i calendar begin at sunset. In the following table, the Baha'i date should be understood as starting at sunset on the day before the first Gregorian date listed for each year.

Holy Days of the Baháʼí calendar[10]
Year Naw-Rúz 1st day of Ridván 9th day of Ridván 12th day of Ridván Declaration of the Báb Ascension of Bahá'u'lláh Martyrdom of the Báb Birth of the Báb Birth of Bahá'u'lláh Day of the Covenant Ascension of ʻAbdu'l-Bahá
2022 21 Mar 21 Apr 29 Apr 2 May 24 May 29 May 10 Jul 26 Oct 27 Oct 26 Nov 28 Nov
2023 21 Mar 21 Apr 29 Apr 2 May 24 May 29 May 10 Jul 16 Oct 17 Oct 26 Nov 28 Nov
2024 20 Mar 20 Apr 28 Apr 1 May 23 May 28 May 9 Jul 2 Nov 3 Nov 25 Nov 27 Nov
2025 20 Mar 20 Apr 28 Apr 1 May 23 May 28 May 9 Jul 22 Oct 23 Oct 25 Nov 27 Nov
2026 21 Mar 21 Apr 29 Apr 2 May 24 May 29 May 10 Jul 10 Nov 11 Nov 26 Nov 28 Nov
2027 21 Mar 21 Apr 29 Apr 2 May 24 May 29 May 10 Jul 30 Oct 31 Oct 26 Nov 28 Nov
2028 20 Mar 20 Apr 28 Apr 1 May 23 May 28 May 9 Jul 19 Oct 20 Oct 25 Nov 27 Nov
2029 20 Mar 20 Apr 28 Apr 1 May 23 May 28 May 9 Jul 7 Nov 8 Nov 25 Nov 27 Nov


Significance

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The notion of "twin Manifestations of God" is a concept fundamental to Baháʼí belief, describing the relationship between the Báb and Baháʼu'lláh. Both are considered Manifestations of God in their own right, having each founded separate religions (Bábism and the Baháʼí Faith) and revealed their own holy scriptures. To Baháʼís, however, the missions of the Báb and Baháʼu'lláh are inextricably linked: The Báb's mission was to prepare the way for the coming of Him whom God shall make manifest, who eventually appeared in the person of Baháʼu'lláh. For this reason, both the Báb and Baháʼu'lláh are revered as central figures of the Baháʼí Faith.[11] A parallel is made between Baháʼu'lláh and the Báb as between Jesus and John the Baptist.[12]

In the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, Baháʼu'lláh wrote that his birthday and that of the Báb "are accounted as one in the sight of God".[2]

References

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  1. ^ Taherzadeh, Adib (1987). The Revelation of Baháʼu'lláh, Volume 4: Mazra'ih & Bahji 1877–92. Oxford, UK: George Ronald. pp. 334–5. ISBN 0-85398-270-8.
  2. ^ a b c Smith, Peter (2000). "holy days". A concise encyclopedia of the Baháʼí Faith. Oxford: Oneworld Publications. pp. 182–183. ISBN 1-85168-184-1.
  3. ^ Smith, Peter (2008). An Introduction to the Baha'i Faith. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. pp. 5, 14. ISBN 978-0-521-86251-6. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
  4. ^ Momen, Moojan (2014). The Badíʻ (Baháʼí) Calendar: An Introduction.
  5. ^ Universal House of Justice (10 July 2014). "To the Baháʼís of the World". Retrieved 1 January 2015.
  6. ^ Bahaʼi World News Service. Bicentenary website connects the world. September 28, 2017.
  7. ^ Bahaʼi World News Service. Bicentenary website to reflect worldwide celebrations. September 6, 2019.
  8. ^ Universal House of Justice (October 2017). To all who celebrate the Glory of God
  9. ^ Table including the dates of the Twin Holy Birthdays from 172 to 221 B.E. (2015 – 2065; prepared by the Baha'i World Centre)
  10. ^ Universal House of Justice (10 July 2014). "Regarding the Implementation of the Badi` Calendar". Retrieved 13 March 2024.
  11. ^ Daume, Daphne; Watson, Louise, eds. (1992). "The Baháʼí Faith". Britannica Book of the Year. Chicago: Encyclopædia Britannica. ISBN 0-85229-486-7.
  12. ^ Christopher Buck (August 2004). "The eschatology of globalization: the multiple-messiahship of Baháʼulláh revisited" (PDF). In Moshe Sharon; W. J. Hanegraaff; P. Pratap Kumar (eds.). Studies in Modern Religions and Religious Movements and the Babi/Baha'i Faiths. Mumen Book Series, Studies in the history of religions. Vol. CIV. Brill Academic Publishers. pp. 143–173. ISBN 9789004139046.
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