The Christmas story is an exciting story in the religious history of the world. You are invited to a weekly, Wednesdays at 9:00 am, Zoom video, prayer group. Sometimes. With Christmas just around the corner, we thought it could be useful to share some of the posts featured on Baha'i Blog so far, that relate to Christianity. 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. 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). Christmas Time! Apr 2011 865 NZ Dec 25, 2012 #2 How can they? Click here to join. Ruth McCullagh. The Bahá'í Faith is all about unity, and Bahá'ís do not wish to cut themselves off from the rest of humanity. 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. By sacrificing Himself, however, a fresh capacity was infused into all created things. I love seeing the lights and decorations, although I usually do not put up any myself. With the exception of New Year, Bahá'í holidays commemorate major events in the lives of the founders of the Bahá'í Faith. Jesus instructed ' communion ' as found at Luke 22:19 the annual observance of Jesus' day … Our sabbath day, so to say, is Friday, but even most Baha’is don’t know that! That being said, however, Baha’is are free to participate in the celebrations observed by their friends and family who adhere to other religions. Learn how your Jewish friends celebrate Hanukkah, and light a Menorah for each of the eight days. Blessed is the man who, with a face beaming with light, hath turned towards Him. He it is Who purified the world. They then gift their food and baking to friends in the neighborhood or people in need. 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? A Christmas message from the Australian Baha’i Community appeared in the Manly Daily newspaper prior to Christmas. 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. Jan 23, 2014 - Explore Anisa Foroughi's board "Baha'i Celebrations" on Pinterest. Baha'i, Wiccan students may worship differently but enjoy the the same. How can they best reach you? Besides, since the Bahá'í Faith accepts the validity of all the former religions, we would need to celebrate ALL their holy days, not just Christmas, in order to be fair. You could create an interfaith calendar of all the religious traditions and holy days. This entry was posted on Thursday, December 8th, 2011 at 10:26 PM and tagged with Baha'u'llah and Jesus, Bahai, Bahai Faith, Bahaullah, Birth of Jesus, Christmas and Baha'i, Messenger of God, religion, spiritual, unity of Messengers of God and posted in Uncategorized. Yes. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed The views expressed in our content reflect individual perspectives and do not represent the official views of the Baha'i Faith. (The following article is by Preethi from bahaiblog.net). The day of Naw-Rúz is also one of the nine Bahá’í Holy Days and so Bahá’ís suspend work to celebrate. Prayer books and writings are prominent, as well as books on Bahá’í history and current topics. But CAN Bahá’ís celebrate Christmas? Christmas is the festival created by the early Church to ensure that there would be a celebration of the coming of Jesus (known as the Christ, "The Chosen One") to the world. Thank you so much! Blessed is the man who, with a face beaming with light, hath turned towards Him. In addition, there are books and materials in languages other than English, selections for children and youth, interfaith materials and Ruhi books for purchase. 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. 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. A selection of music, teaching materials, and calendars is also available, as well as a small collection of used books. Don’t get me wrong. Having been brought up a Baha’i myself, my parents worked hard to instill a Baha’i identity in our family. I don’t celebrate Christmas for my own self, although I join family and friends in their celebrations. The views expressed in our content reflect individual perspectives and do not represent the official views of the Baha'i Faith. The Baha'i year begins on Naw Ruz (lit. Ayyam-i-Ha or the Intercalary days last four days during regular years and five days during a leap year like 2012. 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. Each Bahá’í community will then celebrate according to local custom. Why not? 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 … These days it’s celebrated by people of many different faiths and those of none. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts 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? 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. Another way to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas is to focus on the concept of service and giving. The views expressed in our content reflect individual perspectives and do not represent the official views of the Baha'i Faith. In my childhood and youth in Australia, we celebrated Christmas with my father’s side of the family, who carry strong Irish Catholic traditions. Australian Baha’is join with our family, friends and neighbours in their celebration of Christmas. Through Him the leper recovered from the leprosy of perversity and ignorance. 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. 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. Many people celebrate both Kwanzaa and Christmas. We invited our extended family, friends, and neighbors to join us in our ever-evolving family traditions. So how do Baha’is celebrate the true meaning of Christmas while still honoring their Baha’i beliefs? The confusion here, I think, lies more in the question itself than in the answer. It heralded the life of yet another Manifestation of God who would suffer great tribulations and suffering to bring humanity towards God. Through Him the leper recovered from the leprosy of perversity and ignorance. 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 Station of Jesus Christ in the Baha’i Faith As the birth of The Baha'i Faith and Christianity: 16 Resources Featured on Baha'i Blog Baha'i Holidays and Festivals There are nine annual Bahá'í holy days plus an annual fast. 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 … I love his parents to bits and have loved joining in on their Ukrainian-influenced Roman Catholic Christmas celebrations the past couple of years that we’ve been together (the Saskatchewan winters, not so much!). Bahá'u'lláh is the latest prophet, or 'manifestation', of God. We’d exchange very basic gifts around a decorated, well-lit, plastic Christmas tree. I’m a sucker for holiday movies on the Hallmark Channel. You are welcome to join, 7:30 p.m.;[...], You’re invited to a Devotional Meeting dedicated to the Arts! 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. 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. But this should not be surprising, since once can find examples of truthful and beneficial teaching in many of the other world religions. Bahá'ís accept the prophets of other religions as continuing stages in the revelation of God. For a number of years the UK’s prime minister has issued a statement of celebration for Naw-Rúz. Good question, since Bahá'ís do celebrate with gifts and parties, acts of charity and community service, and general good cheer. I send "Happy Holi" cards to my Indian friends and "Happy Solstice" cards to my Wiccan friends. 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. I celebrate Christmas with my family because it gives us a chance to get together and enjoy each other's company. RELATED: How Interfaith Prayer Gatherings Are Changing Communities. With family and friends they decorate a Christmas tree, open gifts and eat a holiday meal. Celebrating Christmas, as a Baha'i, is a very personal matter. So in no particular order, here are 16 Baha'i Blog posts relating to Christianity in some way: 1. The Baha’i Faith has few traditions, which could also be considered as habits that we strive to implement in our day to day lives, such as prayer and service. 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. Baha’u’llah says: Know thou that when the Son of Man yielded up His breath to God, the whole creation wept with a great weeping. 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. Sort of. However, Christmas--literally, a mass for Christ--is at it's heart a holy day. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed For as long as I can remember, this festive period between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve has always been filled with so much warmth, joy, service, the presence of God, and the coming together of families and friends. One person shared that they host an annual interfaith prayer gathering for their friends and neighbors on the theme of Christmas and the birth of Jesus Christ. There appear to be a number of teaching that the Baha’i Faith promotes that are compatible with Christianity, and in fact may have been “borrowed” from the bible and the teaching of Jesus. As such it has its own calendar and its own holy days. Pagans had Nothing to do with Christmas lies. Through Him, the unchaste and wayward were healed. And the simple answer is: No. Ayyám-i-Há--the Intercalary Days--are those four (five in leap year) … 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. It would be fun, but I'd never get any work done! in Baha'i Videos on Vimeo . The Baha'i calendar consists of 19 months, each 19 days long, equaling 361 days. The Baha'i Faith is a religion which exists independently of all other religions. Christmas: Celebrate the season outside the box. Not all are suitable for people following serious social distancing restrictions, but there are definitely ones that we can try and adopt to some degree, or look forward to trying when we can all be together again. 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. Now, when store clerks and others who do not know me ask if I am ready for Christmas, I simply tell them that I don’t specifically celebrate it myself—though as a Baha’i I honor the spirit of the season. Incarnation theology are integral to it, it isnt just hte birth of Christ it is him as God totally becoming incarnate. Presents can be given at any time. The birth of Jesus marked the fulfillment of Jewish prophecies about a new Manifestation of God. Instead of decorations, some families opt to dress their best and have a special meal together. Love lights a fla, Strive ye with all your hearts, raise up your voic, How can faith-based individuals and organizations, My hope for you is that you will ever avoid tyrann, As we suffer these misfortunes we must remember th, Family Meals: A Space to Bond, Reconnect, and Heal, Finding Beacons of Hope in Monuments and Public Art. The Baha'i calendar has nineteen months, each consisting of nineteen days, and each named for one of the attributes of God. Check your email for the latest from BahaiTeachings.org. You can decorate your home with winter-inspired decorations and call it a “winter wonderland” or “winter festival.” Children could come together to create decorations and ornaments that inspire peace, unity, and joy, place them around the house or gift them to neighbors. Subscribe now to receive email newsletters and updates from the Bahá’í Center of Washtenaw County and surrounding Bahá’í communities. Naturally, at this festive time of year, people like to ask whether or not Bahá’ís celebrate Christmas. Its evidences, as witnessed in all the peoples of the earth, are now manifest before thee. This entry was posted on Thursday, December 8th, 2011 at 10:26 PM and tagged with Baha'u'llah and Jesus, Bahai, Bahai Faith, Bahaullah, Birth of Jesus, Christmas and Baha'i, Messenger of God, religion, spiritual, unity of Messengers of God and posted in Uncategorized. How’s that for definitive? Like many people, Baha’is who do celebrate Halloween see … What really stuck with me was the time we spent together: simple but profound. The Festival of Ayyam-i-Ha lasts from Feb. 26 until March 1. Daily Kent Stater Becca Liptok and Carmel Clavin celebrate Christmas like most Americans. ... “Thus, Africans of all faiths can and do celebrate Kwanzaa, i.e. We testify that when He came into the world, He shed the splendor of His glory upon all created things. Invite friends that you know love the arts! To put you in touch with a Baha’i in your area who can answer your questions, we would like to kindly ask for a few details about yourself. I often find it hard to focus on the spiritual aspects of Christmas because of the heavy cultural significance it has acquired. As such it has its own calendar and its own holy days. For example, in a Bahá'í family, where the parents and children are Bahá'ís, they do not usually buy one another Christmas presents. Many of us do joyfully celebrate Christmas with our families and friends who celebrate it. The majority of believers therefore do not necessarily feel that they … Posted on December 15, 2014 by Kamelia. 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. I read that one Baha’i family uses this time to bake together, and while they bake, they consult on various service ideas for the upcoming calendar year. That does not mean, however, that we do not share all sorts of the celebrations of family and friends who follow other beliefs. The Baha’i Faith is dedicated to bringing about the unification of humankind and an enduring world peace. 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. 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. Your message was successfully sent to BahaiTeachings.org. I. Iconodule. 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. This conversation could look at the yearly calendar, the various community groups and circles you are a part of, and the different faiths and traditions you want to honor as a family, including Baha’i, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Zoroastrian, Christian, and other traditionally spiritual Holy Days. Whereas, Christmas presents are given at Christmas which is based on: lies. The following suggestions could be adapted for many holy days and faith traditions — not just Christmas. 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? Nevertheless, they do not celebrate Christmas amongst themselves. See more ideas about crafts, bahai children, bahai faith. Many of us find joy and comfort in decorations and festive lights throughout the year — and they’re especially lively during the dead of winter. 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. 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. However, as many Christians pause to celebrate the birth and life of Jesus, Baha’is too can stop to reflect on the significance of this day. However, I feel this sense of longing for celebrating something this year. One could be to pack meals and deliver them to the homes of elderly neighbors. Do Baha’is celebrate Christmas? Baha’is do not, however, celebrate Christmas within their communities as one of the 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. Shadi is the Editor of Arts at BahaiTeachings.org and holds a BA in Media Communications and Public Relations, but is more widely recognized for her musical contributions to the Baha’i community and involvement in arts based and community building initiatives, locally and internationally. Right now, we adapt ourselves to the way weeks are organized in the prevailing culture where we happen to live. Program will[...], Join us online for Sunday Morning Devotions every Sunday at 10am. Celebrate Diwali in your home with your Hindu friends, or offer to cook dinner for your Muslim friends during the holy fasting month of Ramadan. "Love is heaven’s kindly light... Love is the on, The happiness of mankind will be realized when wom, Masud Olufani welcomes his father for a conversati, Love gives life to the lifeless. Baha’i Faith; Do Bahá’ís Celebrate Christmas? I celebrate Baha'i holidays with my Baha'i friends -- and anyone else who wants to join us (I'm a Baha'i). Christmas is celebrated by most people in Canada and elsewhere and the Bahá'ís join in these celebrations with their Christian friends. This question is a bit of a tricky one to answer because Christmas means different things to different people. I was raised Methodist, but in 1983 I became a Baha’i. The Baha'i Faith is a religion which exists independently of all other religions. Having a conversation and making a decision as a family builds unity and gives room for all to contribute creatively. Get in touch with the Baha’is in your community. Christmas is the celebration of the incarnation it is a feast day where one prepares by fasting for it. However, just because the Baha’i Faith promotes these teachings does not make the religion compatible with Christianity. I turned to Facebook to see how other Baha’i families celebrate this festive season while also strengthening their own traditions as a family. Please choose 1 or 2 prayers[...], Dear Friends, We are scheduling Zoom-based devotional meetings in our home every Thursday. I have been asked by a few friends if I celebrate Christmas. Baha’is do not, however, celebrate Christmas within their communities as one of the Baha’i Holy Days. There is nothing wrong for Bahá’ís to celebrate Christmas with their families. Blessed, indeed, are those who recognize the immense gift of His divine teachings. In December, Haifa’s Ben Gurion Boulevard (Moshava Germanit) is a winter wonderland of lighted streets and decked-out restaurants featuring decorations that celebrate all faiths, at the foot of the illuminated Baha’i Gardens. Bahá'ís do not regard God as having a gender. For Bahá'ís, New Year is preceeded by the Nineteen Day Fast, a time of spiritual introspection. Christmas is celebrated by most people in Canada and elsewhere and the Bahá'ís join in these celebrations with their Christian friends. As individuals, we are free to partake in any religious activities that don’t directly interfere with the Bahá’í teachings. There are so many other important religious holy days to commemorate during the Christmas period that we can nurture and learn from. Baha’is – while believing in the divine origins of all other world religions – follow the teachings of Baha’u’llah, whom we believe to be the latest in the line of Messengers sent from God with laws to address the needs of humanity in this day and age. I’ve been reflecting on this a lot lately, especially as we hunker down for a lonelier winter in this global pandemic. A very blessed Christmas to all our Christian friends! It depends. The beauty is that there’s room for creativity, flexibility, and honoring the meaning of Christmas, no matter what faith you are. Others pass on participating in Christmas gift exchanges with family and instead find ways they could collectively be of service to their community. He it is Who purified the world. Baha’is do not, however, celebrate Christmas within their communities as one of the Baha’i Holy Days. So Bahá'ís do not celebrate Christmas amongst themselves, but they will happily celebrate Christmas with people who are not Bahá'ís. Top. Bahá'ís celebrate New Year's Day on March 21, the vernal equinox. 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. RELATED: Every New Era Brings A New Calendar. Another Baha’i family hosts a special dinner to invite friends who did not receive an invitation to Christmas dinner. Celebrating Christmas, as a Baha'i, is a very personal matter. Through Him, the unchaste and wayward were healed. Come together as a family or as a group of friends, and discuss how you would like to create family traditions surrounding all holidays. Not wish to cut themselves off from the Australian Baha ’ i family hosts a special dinner to invite who! The Festival of Ayyam-i-Ha lasts from Feb. 26 until March 1 to on! Were healed what really stuck with me was the time we spent together: but... 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