If you have ever been to Douglas for the Fourth of July, then you will surely agree that Douglas knows how to throw a good party. Somehow they have taken the collective remembrance of an historical event and raised it up to become a glorious community wide celebration in honor of that event. Douglas has redefined the meaning of “holiday.”
The word “holiday” has its roots in Old English and means, “holy day, a day which is sacred, divine, inspiring awe or reverence.” Our lives and calendars are filled with holy days. The way we observe these sacred days is usually tied to customs and traditions. For Easter we search for eggs, for Christmas we exchange gifts, during Hanukkah we light candles and fireworks are expected on Diwali. Yet these days are holy, and rise above those outward forms to lift our spirits and remind us of our purpose in life to know and worship God.
Each religion has its own holy days, marking those days of historical or spiritual significance. Timing is particularly difficult when converting historical dates between lunar and solar calendars. For example, Easter is marked in history by a lunar calendar definition, “the first Sunday after the first full moon on or after the vernal equinox.” The date is clearly fixed, yet when we put that on our current calendar, it seems to move around from year to year within about a four-week period.
The Baha’i Faith has a couple holy days with similar difficulties in timing. The twin founders, Baha’u’llah and the Bab, were born in Persia during a time when a lunar calendar was in use. The two dates are remembered as the “Twin Holy Days” and their celebration spans two consecutive days. This is because the Bab was born on the first day of Muharram (on the lunar Islamic calendar) and Baha’u’llah was born two years earlier on the second day of Muharram.
Like Easter, the Twin Holy Days move on the Baha’i calendar from year to year. These holy days occur on the first and the second days after the eighth new moon after the vernal equinox. So this year’s celebrations are Nov. 1-2, while next year the same holy days will be Oct. 21-22. Next year’s festivities will be particularly significant as we mark the bicentennial of the Birth of Baha’u’llah.
This week marks the biggest holy days on the Baha’i calendar, as we try to share a sense of what it means for humanity that these two Luminaries arose to shed their light upon the world. But how should Baha’is celebrate? Should we exchange gifts, light candles and fireworks, lay out a feast, hold a parade or decorate a tree? As a faith that goes out of its way to avoid rites and rituals, it seems unlikely that any of these historical forms of celebration will ever be firmly associated with the Twin Holy Days. Yet, they are all appropriate when they help us to connect with others and radiate the joy in our hearts and contribute to the sanctity of these days of significance.
Prayers of gratitude and thanksgiving will surely be offered. Quiet time to reflect on the meaning and impact of these historical events will certainly be treasured. And we go forward refreshed, renewed, reinvigorated and inspired to face the challenges of life with kindness and generosity. “We work and pray for the unity of mankind, that all the races of the earth may become one race, all the countries one country, and that all hearts may beat as one heart, working together for perfect unity and brotherhood.”
The Twin Holy Days, and all holy days and holidays help to shape our lives, to give structure and highlights to our annual cycle, to clarify our purpose and teach us how to live our daily lives. So I say to you, “Happy Holidays!” as we strive to make every holy day into a glorious community wide celebration.
• Keith Hermann is a member of the Juneau Baha’i Community.
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