Ayyamiha - the days of Ha, the days outside time.
Every year, between February 26 and March 1, Baha’is celebrate Ayyam-i-Ha. These four days (or five, during leap years) are known as the Intercalary Days, beginning at the end of the 18th month of the Baha’i calendar, and ending right before the start of the 19th month of the Baha’i calendar, which is also the month of the Fast.
The Intercalary Days (or Ayyam-i-Ha, meaning “Days of Ha”) are days of preparation for the Fast; days of hospitality, enjoyment, charity, paying special attention to the plight of the poor and sick, and giving presents. They do not mark any particular event, but the way they are celebrated is, in some ways, similar to the way Christmas is observed worldwide.
"It behoveth the people of Baha, throughout these days, to provide good cheer for themselves, their kindred and, beyond them, the poor and needy, and with joy and exultation to hail and glorify their Lord, to sing His praise and magnify His Name." (Baha'u'llah)
The Intercalary Days (or Ayyam-i-Ha, meaning “Days of Ha”) are days of preparation for the Fast; days of hospitality, enjoyment, charity, paying special attention to the plight of the poor and sick, and giving presents. They do not mark any particular event, but the way they are celebrated is, in some ways, similar to the way Christmas is observed worldwide.
"It behoveth the people of Baha, throughout these days, to provide good cheer for themselves, their kindred and, beyond them, the poor and needy, and with joy and exultation to hail and glorify their Lord, to sing His praise and magnify His Name." (Baha'u'llah)
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“The days which Thou hast named the Ayyam-i-Ha in Thy Book have begun, O Thou Who art the King of names, and the fast which Thy most exalted Pen hath enjoined unto all who are in the kingdom of Thy creation to observe is approaching.” (Baha’u’llah)
"Let the days in excess of the months be placed before the month of fasting. We have ordained that these, amid all nights and days, shall be the manifestations of the letter Há, and thus they have not been bounded by the limits of the year and its months...and when they end--these days of giving that precede the season of restraint--let them enter upon the Fast. Thus hath it been ordained by Him Who is the Lord of all mankind." (Baha'u'llah) |
"My God, my Fire and my Light! The days which Thou hast named the Ayyam-i-Ha in Thy Book have begun, O Thou Who art the King of names, and the fast which Thy most exalted Pen hath enjoined unto all who are in the kingdom of Thy creation to observe is approaching." (Baha'u'llah)
"Known as the Ayyám-i-Há (the Days of Há), the Intercalary Days have the distinction of being associated with “the letter Há”. The abjad numerical value of this Arabic letter is five, which corresponds to the potential number of intercalary days. The letter “Há” has been given several spiritual meanings in the Holy Writings, among which is as a symbol of the Essence of God." (Baha'u'llah) HERE - an article on the signifance of the phrase "Ayyamiha".
"Known as the Ayyám-i-Há (the Days of Há), the Intercalary Days have the distinction of being associated with “the letter Há”. The abjad numerical value of this Arabic letter is five, which corresponds to the potential number of intercalary days. The letter “Há” has been given several spiritual meanings in the Holy Writings, among which is as a symbol of the Essence of God." (Baha'u'llah) HERE - an article on the signifance of the phrase "Ayyamiha".
Here is my favourite one!!
Games to treasure hunt the presents. I LOVE their creativity and ingenuity! :)
Story about Ayyamiha:
In the spring season Bahá’u’lláh used to stay at Mazra‘ih for some time.[ Bahá’u’lláh did not live at Mazra‘ih or Bahji all the time. He used to go and stay in ‘Akká sometimes] Mazra‘ih is situated at a distance of about two farsangs [about 12 kilometers] from the city of ‘Akká. To attain His presence I used to go to Mazra‘ih in the daytime and at night I stayed at the Pilgrim House.
On the first day of the Ayyam-i-Há [Intercalary days] one of the pilgrims had invited Bahá’u’lláh and all the believers in ‘Akká to lunch. I too went to Mazra‘ih. Early in the morning a large tent was pitched in front of the entrance to the garden on a delightful open space. That morning all the believers, numbering almost two hundred, consisting of those who were living in the Holy Land and the pilgrims, came to Mazra‘ih.
Around the time of noon, the Blessed Beauty came down from the Mansion and majestically entered the tent. All the believers were standing in front of the tent. Then Mirza Aqa Jan, standing in the presence of Bahá’u’lláh chanted a dawn prayer for fasting which had been revealed on that day. When the prayer was finished the Blessed Beauty instructed all to be seated. Every person sat down in the place where he was standing. His blessed Person spoke to us and after His utterances were ended He asked, ‘What happened to the Feast, is it really going to happen?’ Thereupon a few friends hurried away and soon lunch was brought in. They placed a low table in the middle of the tent. His blessed person and all the Aghsan[The male descendants of Bahá’u’lláh] sat around the table and since there was more room, He called some by name to join Him. Among these my name was called; He said, ‘Aqa Tahir, come and sit.’ So I went in and sat at the table in His presence.
At some point Bahá’u’lláh said, ‘We have become tired of eating. Those who have had enough may leave.’ I immediately arose and His blessed Person left. At first the food which was left over on His plate was divided among the friends, and then group after group entered the tent and had their meal. Everyone at this feast partook of both physical and spiritual food. I got the prayer of fasting from Mirza Aqa Jan and copied it for myself. Then in the evening all the friends returned to ‘Akká. But the Master was not present that day.
(Adib Taherzadeh, The Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh, vol. 4, p. 8)
In the spring season Bahá’u’lláh used to stay at Mazra‘ih for some time.[ Bahá’u’lláh did not live at Mazra‘ih or Bahji all the time. He used to go and stay in ‘Akká sometimes] Mazra‘ih is situated at a distance of about two farsangs [about 12 kilometers] from the city of ‘Akká. To attain His presence I used to go to Mazra‘ih in the daytime and at night I stayed at the Pilgrim House.
On the first day of the Ayyam-i-Há [Intercalary days] one of the pilgrims had invited Bahá’u’lláh and all the believers in ‘Akká to lunch. I too went to Mazra‘ih. Early in the morning a large tent was pitched in front of the entrance to the garden on a delightful open space. That morning all the believers, numbering almost two hundred, consisting of those who were living in the Holy Land and the pilgrims, came to Mazra‘ih.
Around the time of noon, the Blessed Beauty came down from the Mansion and majestically entered the tent. All the believers were standing in front of the tent. Then Mirza Aqa Jan, standing in the presence of Bahá’u’lláh chanted a dawn prayer for fasting which had been revealed on that day. When the prayer was finished the Blessed Beauty instructed all to be seated. Every person sat down in the place where he was standing. His blessed Person spoke to us and after His utterances were ended He asked, ‘What happened to the Feast, is it really going to happen?’ Thereupon a few friends hurried away and soon lunch was brought in. They placed a low table in the middle of the tent. His blessed person and all the Aghsan[The male descendants of Bahá’u’lláh] sat around the table and since there was more room, He called some by name to join Him. Among these my name was called; He said, ‘Aqa Tahir, come and sit.’ So I went in and sat at the table in His presence.
At some point Bahá’u’lláh said, ‘We have become tired of eating. Those who have had enough may leave.’ I immediately arose and His blessed Person left. At first the food which was left over on His plate was divided among the friends, and then group after group entered the tent and had their meal. Everyone at this feast partook of both physical and spiritual food. I got the prayer of fasting from Mirza Aqa Jan and copied it for myself. Then in the evening all the friends returned to ‘Akká. But the Master was not present that day.
(Adib Taherzadeh, The Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh, vol. 4, p. 8)
Ayyamiha Songs
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There's the Happy Ayyám-i-Há Album -- side 1, which you can listen to HERE. It wouldn't embed unfortunately, but it's there for you to enjoy :)
Contains: 1. O God! Educate These Children 2. The Ayyám-i-Há Song 3. Here Am I 4. The Báb |
Advent Calenders
From: At home with Momma Skyla:
Mr. Peacock has 19 numbered feathers made out of all sorts of scraps of fabric. Each feather is a pocket that holds a task for that day leading up to Ayyam-i-Ha. 19 days of preparation for the big days! There are party planning steps, gift making days, card making days...It's all in there. So each day the kids pull the note out of the correct feather and do whatever Ayyam-i-Ha planning step is written there.
One thing that friends of mine would do is have four (or five) stockings hanging up in the lounge - Christmas stocking style: one stocking for each day of Ayyamiha, and as Ayyamiha approached, presents would be placed that could be unravelled on the appropriate day. Below are some advent calender ideas (courtesy google images)
Mr. Peacock has 19 numbered feathers made out of all sorts of scraps of fabric. Each feather is a pocket that holds a task for that day leading up to Ayyam-i-Ha. 19 days of preparation for the big days! There are party planning steps, gift making days, card making days...It's all in there. So each day the kids pull the note out of the correct feather and do whatever Ayyam-i-Ha planning step is written there.
One thing that friends of mine would do is have four (or five) stockings hanging up in the lounge - Christmas stocking style: one stocking for each day of Ayyamiha, and as Ayyamiha approached, presents would be placed that could be unravelled on the appropriate day. Below are some advent calender ideas (courtesy google images)
Steezy advent calender styles I'd like to try...
Other project ideas
From: At home with Momma Skyla:
These are Ayyamiha cup-cake toppers. And for those who know not what cup-cake toppers are (I didn't, I thought they'd be a stencil of sorts by which you can decorate the icing on the cakes), they're pictures/cards that get attached to little sticks that you stick into the cup-cakes. So they kind of just float above. Template HERE.
These are Ayyamiha cup-cake toppers. And for those who know not what cup-cake toppers are (I didn't, I thought they'd be a stencil of sorts by which you can decorate the icing on the cakes), they're pictures/cards that get attached to little sticks that you stick into the cup-cakes. So they kind of just float above. Template HERE.
From: Hamilton's very own 2014 Ayyamiha Celebration :)
This Ayyamiha just gone in Hamilton, we had a *wonderful* Ayyamiha organizing committee. There were two notable events that stood out - the first was a games night that was to raise money for the fund. There were a number of cakes that individuals in the community had baked and donated. For the number of cakes, there were the same number of silly games in which four people could participate. You paid for each name you nominated to participate in the games - and the winners of each game won a pie. It was a hilarious, fun filled evening.
On the Saturday, we had a childrens fun day at the Bahai Centre, to which we invited the childrens class children, and children from the locality to come and attend. Bouncy castle, magician and all.
This Ayyamiha just gone in Hamilton, we had a *wonderful* Ayyamiha organizing committee. There were two notable events that stood out - the first was a games night that was to raise money for the fund. There were a number of cakes that individuals in the community had baked and donated. For the number of cakes, there were the same number of silly games in which four people could participate. You paid for each name you nominated to participate in the games - and the winners of each game won a pie. It was a hilarious, fun filled evening.
On the Saturday, we had a childrens fun day at the Bahai Centre, to which we invited the childrens class children, and children from the locality to come and attend. Bouncy castle, magician and all.
HERE are "ideas couched in brevity" - Baha'is from around the world sharing ideas regarding what they've done for Ayyamiha. :)