Ayyám-i-Há
Ayyám-i-Há is a multi-day festival dedicated to socializing, charitable giving and preparing for upcoming days of fasting.
Ayyám-i-Há is a multi-day festival dedicated to socializing, charitable giving and preparing for upcoming days of fasting.
Renee Harleston
Reviewer page idDate: February 26-29, 2024
Names: Ayyám-i-Há, Intercalary days, Days of Ha
Pronunciation: ah-YAH-mee-ha
Ayyám-i-Há is a multi-day festival dedicated to socializing, charitable giving and preparing for upcoming days of fasting.
Origin
Bahá’u’lláh, the founder of the Bahá’í Faith, declared the festival of Ayyám-i-Há in The Kitáb-i-Aqdas, a holy book he wrote around 1873. He wrote, “Let the days in excess of the months be placed before the month of fasting.” Ayyám-i-Há occurs each year before ‘Alá’, the 19th month of the Bahá’í calendar, when the Nineteen-Day Fast occurs.
Ayyám-i-Há is also known as “Days of Ha” or “Intercalary days.” Intercalary days signifies what Ayyám-i-Há is: additional days added to the Bahá’í calendar each year. “Days of Ha” have a number of potential meanings, but “Ha” can be used to signify God or Báb, who Bahá’u’lláh followed to form the Bahá’í Faith.
When it is observed
The Bahá’í calendar is divided into 19 months, each with 19 days. Ayyám-i-Há are also known as “Intercalary Days.” These days are added to the Bahá’í calendar according to the vernal equinox. Ayyám-i-Há is celebrated at the end of the 18th month in the Bahá’í calendar (Mulk) and before the 19th month (‘Alá’).
Traditions
There are very few set rituals in the Bahá’í faith, so each person may celebrate Ayyám-i-Há differently. The festival is themed around good cheer, for oneself and others. It is a time of giving, happiness and charity.
People may throw parties and gifts are frequently exchanged during Ayyám-i-Há. Some people engage in charity work, volunteering or charitable giving during this time. Celebrants may throw dinner parties and feasts. However celebrants participate, the themes of happiness and hospitality reign.
What to do
“Happy Ayyám-i-Há!” is the traditional greeting for this holiday.