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By u/kittensinadumpster
Posted on April 18, 2021
My neighbor is a really sweet Bahai woman and I typically give her a gift around Christmas just because that's what people tend to do in the Southern U.S. (Our family are non-practicing Jews). I have tried to search online about Bahai holidays to see if there was a traditional gift-giving one I should use for her, but I couldn't figure one out. I couldn't really tell which ones were more important.
Can anyone tell me which holidays are the important ones and if there are any for which it is traditional to give a gift or some other thoughtful remembrance?
Let me know if it's a religion like Jehovah's Witnesses where you aren't supposed to give birthday/Holliday gifts.
My neighbor is originally from Iran but has lived in U.S. most of her adult life so she's an American.
In college / grad school we would give flavored water drinks & non-edible gifts to the Muslim kids during Ramadan, and would help celebrate lunar new year & Diwali for others. But I don't have much knowledge of Bahai other than knowing they are pretty nice folk.
u/jooj148:
This is so kind of you! Bahá’às usually exchange gifts during the time of Ayyam-I-Ha, which in English means the Intercalary Days. This is the time that we celebrate and gather prior to the 19 day fast. I am sure your neighbor will appreciate any small gift during this time, just keep in mind Baha’is don’t drink alcohol when picking a gift (but do not have other dietary restrictions).
u/NJBridgewater:
As the other poster wrote, Ayyám-i-Há is our gift giving season in February.
Our Most Great Festival is Ridván (a 12 day festival) but we don’t usually give gifts. We have gatherings and celebrations on the 1st, 9th and 12th days of Ridván.
The Baha’i New Year is Naw-Rúz, which is usually on the 20th or 21st of March. This is ALSO the Iranian New Year. In Iran, there are many non-Baha’i practices which a lot of Iranian Baha’is also keep. For Iranian Baha’is, Naw-Rúz is also a time of gift giving. Since your friend is Iranian, she may also appreciate a gift on Naw-Rúz. For Iranians in general (not just Baha’is), it is the most important day of the year, and they celebrate it for more than one day. People in Iran don’t work for a week or two, if I recall correctly. So that’s closer to the Iranian version of Christmas.
u/georgetonorge:
That’s really nice of you. I should point out, however, that both Baha’is and Muslims are not allowed to drink during their fast either. So even calorie free flavored water would have to be saved for sunset.
As someone else mentioned, Naw Ruz is a great time to give gifts to any Iranian, whether Baha’i or not. Cheers.
u/Adult_InThe_Room:
https://religionfacts.com/bahai/holidays
Non-Baha'i can participate in all things Baha'i except the 19 Day Feast which is not al holiday but more akin to tending to local community business.
"Baha’is around the world will celebrate four days of festivities, gifts, parties, service projects and charitable humanitarian work during the Baha’i holidays called Ayyam-i-Ha. That Persian phrase designates the Baha’i Intercalary Days, describing the four or five days in the annual Baha’i calendar that don’t fall into any given month. Baha’is set aside those days for joyous celebrations and preparation for the Baha’i fast that always follows Ayyam-i-Ha."
https://www.bpl.org/blogs/post/the-origins-and-practices-of-holidays-day-of-the-covenant-and-ascension-of-abdul-baha/
u/Knute5:
Just wish her Happy Ridvan (pron: Riz'-wahn) during the next days after the 21st and that'll probably make her happy. This 12-day festival marks the official beginning and declaration of Baha'u'llah (our Prophet Founder) as the One foretold by all religions - a tall order, obviously. But that's what she and we believe.
It's kind that you wish to do a nice thing for her. Baha'is love to celebrate and exchange gifts, time, food, etc. No worries, except for giving alcohol. What Baha'is like most is to talk about peace, race relations, God and prayer and how we can all learn to love one another and coexist. That means more than all the flowers and gifts in the world.
u/ap_soundchamber:
I'm sure there must be several comments about Ayaam-i-Haa or the Intercalation Days here. (Our gift exchange festival ...of sorts). So I won't talk about that. I just wanted to say I really appreciate your sweet gesture and find people like you in this world very inspiring.
Have a nice day :)