The Badi (Baha'i) Year (resource links + introduction)
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There is a beautiful prayer in Shí'ah Islam, usually said during the period of fasting in the month of Ramadan, which invokes God through His names. There are nineteen invocations in this prayer and each revolves around one of His names, the first being Baha (Glory). The Báb has taken these names in the same order and given them to the nineteen months of His calendar, each month having nineteen days. This calendar is the basis of the Badi' Calendar, which is the one in use in this Dispensation.
(Adib Taherzadeh, The Revelation of Baha'u'llah, v1, p. 116) |
Introduction to the Baha'i Calendar
The Baha'i year is governed by the Badi Calendar. It's definitely a challenge to live according to two calendars (#looking forward to the days where the 19 day cycle is something more integrated)... (UPDATE - I feel like I spoke too soon - with that letter from the Beloved House of Justice regarding the universal implementation of the Baha'i Calendar. Badi meaning unique/wondrous. I've also heard that it can also mean "beginnings".
The Baha'i Calendar - the Badi Calendar, was one outlined by the Bab, and then later confirmed by Baha'u'llah. Badi means "wondrous" or "unique". This calendar takes effect from 1844.
Calendars are tools we use to organize and regulate our lives, especially our collective lives. The calendar has a fundamental impact on the way we think and the way we interact with each other. Calendars have often been organized with religious observances in mind, and indeed may have originally developed, at least in part, in response to religious concerns.
The Baha'i Calendar - the Badi Calendar, was one outlined by the Bab, and then later confirmed by Baha'u'llah. Badi means "wondrous" or "unique". This calendar takes effect from 1844.
Calendars are tools we use to organize and regulate our lives, especially our collective lives. The calendar has a fundamental impact on the way we think and the way we interact with each other. Calendars have often been organized with religious observances in mind, and indeed may have originally developed, at least in part, in response to religious concerns.
Song of the Baha'i Months |
Bahá'u'lláh came to "recreate" the world, to revitalize the spiritual life of humanity and to institue a revolution in the way we live. This revolution seeks to touch all aspects of our lives, from private acts of devotion to the governance of our communities and the world as a whole. At the moment, with the exception of a few observances peculiar to the Bahá'í community itself, the Badi calendar does not seem to be very important. It is, after all, only a calendar. But in the future, as humanity takes increasing notice of Bahá'u'lláh's revelation, it may well be that this new calendar, with its carefully-measured rhythms and its built-in remembrance of the Names of God, may prove to have a significant effect not only in organizing the affairs of all people, but also in drawing them nearer to the Source of their being.
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There are 19 months, each month has 19 days. The name of each month refers to an attribute of God. Each of the 19 days of the 19 months is named in the same manner and order. So, the first of the first month would be Baha of Baha. The seventh of the seventh month would be Kalimat of Kalimat.
In between the last two months of the Baha'i Calendar, we have a period called "Ayyam'i'ha" which are intercalary days, either 4 or 5 depending if it's a leap year or not. This means our new year - Naw Ruz, will fall in the same spot every year - March 21st.The word "vahid", meaning unity, has the numerical value of nineteen, and is often used by the Báb and Bahá'u'lláh when specifying the quantity nineteen. So the number nineteen, in addition to being a quantity, also is evocative of the central teaching of the Bahá'í Faith, unity. A period of 19 years is called a vahid. "19" forms the basis of not only of the calendar, but is also integral to the structure of the Persian Bayan (the Báb's Book of laws); is found in Bahá'u'lláh's laws concerning dowries, the payment of Huquq'u'lláh, certain fines, and various prayers; and is even seen in the history of the Faith, as Bahá'u'lláh's public declaration of His mission took place nineteen years after the Báb's declaration. The first 18 believers + the Bab formed the first vahid of His followers. Also existing in the Bahá'í calendar system is a 19-year cycle called Váḥid and a 361-year (19x19) supercycle called Kull-i-Shay’ (literally, "All Things"). Each Vahid in the cycles also have a name.
The day starts at sunset. This tradition is similar to Judaism and Islam.
The Baha'i week has seven days - with the week starting on Saturday. This set of names repeats some of the month names, but introduces a few new ones as well: Jalál (Glory) corresponds to Saturday, Jamál (Beauty) to Sunday, Kamál (Perfection) to Monday, Fidál (Grace) to Tuesday, 'Idál (Justice) to Wednesday, Istijlál (Majesty) to Thursday, and Istiqlál (Independence) to Friday. 'Abdu'l-Bahá specified that the Bahá'í day of rest should be observed on Istiqlál (Friday). With the months, and days of the week being named like this, a person symbolically experiences the passage of time throughout life conscious of the attributes of the Creator. In addition to the measurement of time, the Bab envisioned the possibility that language itself, and the way grammar is taught to children in schools, could reflect symbolic meanings about Divine attributes.
The first day of each Bahá'í month is designated as a Feast day. The Feast is a community gathering that incorporates worship, community business, and socializing. It is the foundation of Bahá'í community life and is primarily administrative in nature.
In between the last two months of the Baha'i Calendar, we have a period called "Ayyam'i'ha" which are intercalary days, either 4 or 5 depending if it's a leap year or not. This means our new year - Naw Ruz, will fall in the same spot every year - March 21st.The word "vahid", meaning unity, has the numerical value of nineteen, and is often used by the Báb and Bahá'u'lláh when specifying the quantity nineteen. So the number nineteen, in addition to being a quantity, also is evocative of the central teaching of the Bahá'í Faith, unity. A period of 19 years is called a vahid. "19" forms the basis of not only of the calendar, but is also integral to the structure of the Persian Bayan (the Báb's Book of laws); is found in Bahá'u'lláh's laws concerning dowries, the payment of Huquq'u'lláh, certain fines, and various prayers; and is even seen in the history of the Faith, as Bahá'u'lláh's public declaration of His mission took place nineteen years after the Báb's declaration. The first 18 believers + the Bab formed the first vahid of His followers. Also existing in the Bahá'í calendar system is a 19-year cycle called Váḥid and a 361-year (19x19) supercycle called Kull-i-Shay’ (literally, "All Things"). Each Vahid in the cycles also have a name.
The day starts at sunset. This tradition is similar to Judaism and Islam.
The Baha'i week has seven days - with the week starting on Saturday. This set of names repeats some of the month names, but introduces a few new ones as well: Jalál (Glory) corresponds to Saturday, Jamál (Beauty) to Sunday, Kamál (Perfection) to Monday, Fidál (Grace) to Tuesday, 'Idál (Justice) to Wednesday, Istijlál (Majesty) to Thursday, and Istiqlál (Independence) to Friday. 'Abdu'l-Bahá specified that the Bahá'í day of rest should be observed on Istiqlál (Friday). With the months, and days of the week being named like this, a person symbolically experiences the passage of time throughout life conscious of the attributes of the Creator. In addition to the measurement of time, the Bab envisioned the possibility that language itself, and the way grammar is taught to children in schools, could reflect symbolic meanings about Divine attributes.
The first day of each Bahá'í month is designated as a Feast day. The Feast is a community gathering that incorporates worship, community business, and socializing. It is the foundation of Bahá'í community life and is primarily administrative in nature.
Time and the Baha'i Era: A study of the Badi Calendar by Gerald Keil.
And there's a 334 page long book regarding this calendar.
This thought-provoking book examines the historical background and symbolic significance of the Badí‘ calendar, as well as practical issues to be resolved before it can assume its rightful place as a world calendar.
And there's a 334 page long book regarding this calendar.
This thought-provoking book examines the historical background and symbolic significance of the Badí‘ calendar, as well as practical issues to be resolved before it can assume its rightful place as a world calendar.
Neat Activities:
Tutorial on how to create a 3D Baha'i calendar HERE
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A great idea I saw in a Brilliant Stars Magazine - was to have a sheet of stickers, i.e. some labelled "Feast" "Ridvan" "Childrens classes" etc., and the children would then be able to apply those stickers directly to whichever "Gregorian calendar" was in use.
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Calendar Posters
A story about the Baha'i Calendar
http://core-curriculum.bahai.us/downloads/lpgs/LPG%20Bab2%20G4.pdf
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