The official website of the Baha'i Faith is: Sign up for our newsletter and get all our latest content, © 2021 BahaiTeachings.org All Rights Reserved. However, I feel this sense of longing for celebrating something this year. The deepest wisdom which the sages have uttered, the profoundest learning which any mind hath unfolded, the arts which the ablest hands have produced, the influence exerted by the most potent of rulers, are but manifestations of the quickening power released by His transcendent, His all-pervasive, and resplendent Spirit. Meeting ID: 966 4294 0212 Password:[...], © Copyright Bahá’í Center of Washtenaw County, "Recreating Ourselves in the Image of the Master": A series of talks by Tom Price on ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, the Perfect Exemplar, Contributing to social progress: The U.S. Baha'i Office of Public Affairs, The Mission of the Báb: Retrospective 1844-1994. Apr 2011 865 NZ Dec 25, 2012 #2 How can they? Ruth McCullagh. The Christmas story is an exciting story in the religious history of the world. By sacrificing Himself, however, a fresh capacity was infused into all created things. The views expressed in our content reflect individual perspectives and do not represent the official views of the Baha'i Faith. For Bahá'ís, New Year is preceeded by the Nineteen Day Fast, a time of spiritual introspection. We testify that when He came into the world, He shed the splendor of His glory upon all created things. I celebrate Baha'i holidays with my Baha'i friends -- and anyone else who wants to join us (I'm a Baha'i). Bahá'ís accept the prophets of other religions as continuing stages in the revelation of God. I. Iconodule. Indeed, families may contain both Baha’is and non-Baha’is, and the participation by Baha’is at celebrations of Christmas or of other religious observances, should not be made into a source of conflict but rather be used as an opportunity for demonstrating the honor due to other religions and also as an incentive for developing the celebration of Baha’i Holy Days and anniversaries. It would be fun, but I'd never get any work done! Blessed, indeed, are those who recognize the immense gift of His divine teachings. As individuals, we are free to partake in any religious activities that don’t directly interfere with the Bahá’í teachings. Here is a highly informative video by a Baha'i speaker about the nature of the Christmas holiday and why Baha'is generally do not celebrate it … Press J to jump to the feed. You have explained that as a result of an email discussion group there is a differing of opinions whether Baha’is are permitted to celebrate Christmas, and you have expressed your understanding that while there is no harm in sharing the festivities with friends, the " Baha’is themselves should not be putting up Christmas trees, exchanging gifts, etc." Every year after my grandma attended mass, we gathered at a long grouping of tables covered in Christmas crackers and decorations, put on colorful paper crowns, and enjoyed cold cuts, salads, and a BBQ on the back patio by the pool, in our swimsuits, on a hot Australian Christmas Day. Jesus instructed ' communion ' as found at Luke 22:19 the annual observance of Jesus' day … Baha’is do not, however, celebrate Christmas within their communities as one of the Baha’i Holy Days. The Festival of Ayyam-i-Ha lasts from Feb. 26 until March 1. I send "Happy Holi" cards to my Indian friends and "Happy Solstice" cards to my Wiccan friends. But this should not be surprising, since once can find examples of truthful and beneficial teaching in many of the other world religions. You are invited to a weekly, Wednesdays at 9:00 am, Zoom video, prayer group. That being said, however, Baha’is are free to participate in the celebrations observed by their friends and family who adhere to other religions. It heralded the life of yet another Manifestation of God who would suffer great tribulations and suffering to bring humanity towards God. Eight years ago, in 2011, the United Nations proclaimed July 30 th as the annual International Day of Friendship. Through Him the leper recovered from the leprosy of perversity and ignorance. The day of Naw-Rúz is also one of the nine Bahá’í Holy Days and so Bahá’ís suspend work to celebrate. I was raised Methodist, but in 1983 I became a Baha’i. How can they best reach you? Many people celebrate both Kwanzaa and Christmas. But these words of Baha’u’llah remind us of the real significance of the life of Jesus. I think that we can all agree that while Christmas may be, essentially, a Christian holiday, the celebration of Christmas has expanded well beyond the boundaries of Christianity. The birth of Jesus marked the fulfillment of Jewish prophecies about a new Manifestation of God. Blessed is the man who, with a face beaming with light, hath turned towards Him. Fast-forward about 20 years: I’ve moved to Canada and found myself a wonderful Prairie husband, who discovered and adopted the Baha’i Faith in his youth. I often find it hard to focus on the spiritual aspects of Christmas because of the heavy cultural significance it has acquired. For example, in a Bahá'í family, where the parents and children are Bahá'ís, they do not usually buy one another Christmas presents. These days it’s celebrated by people of many different faiths and those of none. Thank you so much! Get in touch with the Baha’is in your community. One thing is for sure: there are many ways for Baha’is — and people of other faiths — to inclusively take part in the spirit and festivities of the season while also strengthening their family and faith traditions. Bahá'ís celebrate New Year's Day on March 21, the vernal equinox. And if so, how do they commemorate the occasion? When I was employed with the government I would offer to work for my Christian co-workers over the Christmas holidays and they in their turn agreed to cover my duties over Baha’i holidays like Ayyam-i-Ha and Naw … Baha’i Faith; Do Bahá’ís Celebrate Christmas? There is nothing wrong for Bahá’ís to celebrate Christmas with their families. Incarnation theology are integral to it, it isnt just hte birth of Christ it is him as God totally becoming incarnate. It marked the beginning of a very special childhood made distinct because of the innate wisdom that all Manifestations have, even as children. They include writings from Christianity and the Baha’i Faith that highlight the station of Jesus and his importance to the world — like these words from Baha’u’llah, the prophet and founder of the Baha’i Faith: We testify that when He came into the world, He shed the splendor of His glory upon all created things. Posted on December 15, 2014 by Kamelia. (The following article is by Preethi from bahaiblog.net). The views expressed in our content reflect individual perspectives and do not represent the official views of the Baha'i Faith. People who work shift jobs sometimes offer to cover the shift of their Christian co-workers so that they can celebrate Christmas with their families. Through His power, born of Almighty God, the eyes of the blind were opened, and the soul of the sinner sanctified… We bear witness that through the power of the Word of God every leper was cleansed, every sickness was healed, every human infirmity was banished. The life and ministry of Jesus transformed the lives of individuals — both in His lifetime and for centuries after — as well as humanity as a whole. The views expressed in our content reflect individual perspectives and do not represent the official views of the Baha'i Faith. Bahá'ís do not regard God as having a gender. Prayer books and writings are prominent, as well as books on Bahá’í history and current topics. Jan 23, 2014 - Explore Anisa Foroughi's board "Baha'i Celebrations" on Pinterest. So in no particular order, here are 16 Baha'i Blog posts relating to Christianity in some way: 1. Indeed, families may contain both Bahá’ís and non-Bahá’ís, and the participation by Bahá’ís at celebrations of Christmas or of other religious observances, should not be made into a source of conflict but rather be used as an opportunity for demonstrating the honor due to other religions and also as an incentive for developing the celebration of Bahá’í Holy Days and anniversaries. I don’t celebrate Christmas for my own self, although I join family and friends in their celebrations. For the first time in both our lives, no external circumstances or forces are influencing either of us to celebrate Christmas. Bahá'u'lláh is the latest prophet, or 'manifestation', of God. …and what Pagans do. While the principle of progressive revelation means that Baha’is believe in the divine origin of the other world religions (and consequently, the significance of each of their Holy Days), the Baha’i Faith is an independent religion with its own Holy Days. Yes. Christmas: Celebrate the season outside the box. How’s that for definitive? Christmas Time! You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed Each Bahá’í community will then celebrate according to local custom. The Baha'i year begins on Naw Ruz (lit. Every year on December 10 th the world observes Human Rights Day, marking the day the United Nations General Assembly adopted the … Naturally, at this festive time of year, people like to ask whether or not Bahá’ís celebrate Christmas. – The Baha’i World, Volume 4, p. 379. As a community, Baha’is are encouraged to emphasize celebrating Baha’i Holy Days and discontinue celebrating other religious Holy Days —because, otherwise, why would we have Baha’i Holy Days? This will be the first year we won’t be joining my husband’s family for Christmas, and the first one my husband has missed in his entire life, all because of this darn pandemic. Others pass on participating in Christmas gift exchanges with family and instead find ways they could collectively be of service to their community. As such it has its own calendar and its own holy days. But if I want to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas, I think the best way to do this is to watch a documentary that tells the story of the courageous life of Jesus Christ himself, to learn of his miracles and sacrifices. A Christmas message from the Australian Baha’i Community appeared in the Manly Daily newspaper prior to Christmas. Through Him, the unchaste and wayward were healed. The Baha'i Faith is a religion which exists independently of all other religions. Baha’is revere Jesus as a Manifestation of God , but we have our own holy days, just as Jews have theirs, Muslims have theirs, Christians have theirs, and so forth. As Christmas and the end of the Gregorian calendar year approach, I see many questions on my Facebook feed, asking: Do Baha’is celebrate Christmas? The bookstore at the Bahá’í Center of Washtenaw County features a variety of books and materials of interest to the members of the Bahá’í community. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed Here is the text of the message: A Christmas message from the Australian Baha’i Community. Come together as a family or as a group of friends, and discuss how you would like to create family traditions surrounding all holidays. Through Him the leper recovered from the leprosy of perversity and ignorance. This passage is close to my heart because I was raised as a Christian and was first taught to know and worship God through the teachings of Jesus. This meant my family observed Baha’i Holy Days and other significant days — such as Ayyam-i-Ha; Naw Ruz; Ridvan; and the birth of the Twin Manifestations, the Bab and Baha’u’llah — with unique activities surrounding gift-giving, hospitality, service, and charity. For a number of years the UK’s prime minister has issued a statement of celebration for Naw-Rúz. Why not? Baha'i Holidays and Festivals There are nine annual Bahá'í holy days plus an annual fast. Based on the understanding of Christmas as a commemoration of the birth of Christ, the day is clearly of significance to Baha’is, who believe that Christ was a Manifestation of God. A very blessed Christmas to all our Christian friends! Celebrating Christmas, as a Baha'i, is a very personal matter. Your message was successfully sent to BahaiTeachings.org. Then I ask them what THEY are doing. Christmas is celebrated by most people in Canada and elsewhere and the Bahá'ís join in these celebrations with their Christian friends. The Bahá'í Faith is all about unity, and Bahá'ís do not wish to cut themselves off from the rest of humanity. Presents can be given at any time. There are many ways to do this. Celebrating Christmas, as a Baha'i, is a very personal matter. However, the global governing body of the Baha’i community, the Universal House of Justice, wrote in a 1989 letter to a Baha’i: … there is no harm in Baha’is sharing Christmas with Christian relatives or friends. While the principle of progressive revelation means that Baha’is believe in the divine origin of the other world religions (and consequently, the significance of each of their Holy Days), the Baha’i Faith is an independent religion with its own Holy Days. RELATED: How Interfaith Prayer Gatherings Are Changing Communities. Through Him, the unchaste and wayward were healed. In my childhood and youth in Australia, we celebrated Christmas with my father’s side of the family, who carry strong Irish Catholic traditions. Another way to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas is to focus on the concept of service and giving. Christmas is a tricky one because of what it has come to represent in much of Western society – the true meaning of Christmas is, unfortunately, often lost amidst the Christmas tree decorations, Santa-and-elf motifs and endless Christmas sales advertisements. Service could also mean coming together with some others to clean up a local park or planning a small neighborhood children’s festival that focuses on joy and service. See more ideas about crafts, bahai children, bahai faith. Top. There is, of course, no record of the birth of Jesus except in the Bible (Gospels), and the two Gospels which mention Jesus's birth at all do not mention what time of year it was. We invited our extended family, friends, and neighbors to join us in our ever-evolving family traditions. Another could be to offer a hand at the local shelter for their annual Christmas feast. The confusion here, I think, lies more in the question itself than in the answer. Baha’is do not, however, celebrate Christmas within their communities as one of the Baha’i Holy Days. He it is Who purified the world. Another Baha’i family hosts a special dinner to invite friends who did not receive an invitation to Christmas dinner. Having been brought up a Baha’i myself, my parents worked hard to instill a Baha’i identity in our family. However, Christmas--literally, a mass for Christ--is at it's heart a holy day. I love attending the Lessons and Carols held here on the island in the Episcopalian Church (along with most of the islanders, no matter their faith). He it is Who purified the world. I have been asked by a few friends if I celebrate Christmas. So how do Baha’is celebrate the true meaning of Christmas while still honoring their Baha’i beliefs? Some receive gifts at Christmas and distribute gifts on Baha’i Holy Days. Good question, since Bahá'ís do celebrate with gifts and parties, acts of charity and community service, and general good cheer. Many of us do joyfully celebrate Christmas with our families and friends who celebrate it. Christmas is the celebration of the incarnation it is a feast day where one prepares by fasting for it. Sometimes, Bahá’ís are invited to Christmas celebrations with their friends : all this is fine, because Bahá’u’lláh taught that Bahá’ís must maintain cordial relationships with the followers of all religions. Although the Bahá'í writings use a masculine pronoun to refer to God, this is to suit the language in which they were originally written. I celebrate Christmas with my family because it gives us a chance to get together and enjoy each other's company. However, the global governing body of the Baha’i community, the Universal House of Justice, wrote in a 1989 letter to a Baha’i: … there is no harm in Baha’is sharing Christmas with Christian relatives or … Sort of. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts Pagans had Nothing to do with Christmas lies. This question is a bit of a tricky one to answer because Christmas means different things to different people. 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