Season's greetings!

[BruceDLimber]

Friends, since the time is Fast approaching (so to speak ), let me wish all and sundry a very joyous Baha'i New Year!

B. E. 164 is nearly upon us.

Best,

Bruce

 

[arthra]

 

[arthra]

This evening March 20th marks the end of the Baha'i Fast and the beginning of Naw-Ruz or New Year for Baha'is. Naw-Ruz is also widely observed in Iran and Afganistan by Muslims and Zoroastrians.

Here is an article about Naw-Ruz:

http://www.safnet.com/bahai/docs/nawruz.html

No one is sure when Naw-Ruz began but it coincides with the first day of Spring and the vernal equinox.

I'm speculating but it might have some relationship to Nisan:

"Hebrew nîsn, from Akkadian nisnu, the first month in the Babylonian calendar (corresponding to parts of March and April), from Sumerian nisag, first fruits.."

So like Nisan, Naw-Ruz introduces the Baha'i Year..this will be 163 of the Baha'i Era.

- Art

: hamster : :bunny: :bunny: olarbaby:

 

[BruceDLimber]

Hi!

this will be 163 of the Baha'i Era.

What am I missing here?!

If my counting is correct, the Baha'i Era started in the spring of 1844 CE, which was therefore Year One of the Baha'i Era.

So a hundred sixty years later would be 2004 CE, or B. E. 161.

Hence 2005 is 162.

2006 is 163.

And 2007 is B. E. 164.

Right?

So why do I keep hearing that this will be year 163 instead of year 164?!

I, too, wish our calendar had started with a Year Zero in 1844 (which would indeed make tonight the start of year 163), but since we began with a Year One instead, it sure seems to me that tonight will be 164.

Am I missing something?

Thanks,

Bruce

 

[arthra]

Your probably right Bruice..just chalk it up to another senior moment of mine... I just wanted to see if you were on your toes. April Fool!

HAPPY NAW-RUZ 164 Baha'i Era!

- Art

 

[michel]

Happy Baha'i New Year to you all!

 

[BruceDLimber]

Greetings, all!

Our biggest series of Baha'i holy days begins Friday April 20 at sunset, the twelve-day Ridvan (pronounced "Rizwan") festival commemorating the Declartion of Baha'u'llah, our Founder.

So I wish all and sundry a very happy Ridvan!

(We'll all be having the annual elections for our Local Spiritual Assemblies Friday evening or Saturday daytime, and will be electing our National Spiritual Assemblies later in the festival.)

Best!

Bruce

 

[Guitar's Cry]

Happy New Year!

How do you folks celebrate it?

 

[arthra]

Well Naw-Ruz occurred on March 21st or the Vernal Equinox...

It's the beginning of Spring....so we most often have large picnics or potlucks during the day (March 21st) and enjoy each others company. Some communities have more elaborate Naw-Ruz parties with music or maybe special dinners..

All of us though are happy because it ends the Nineteen Day Fast.

Ancient Naw-Ruz was observed in Zoroastrian religion as well.

- Art

 

[Guitar's Cry]

Well Naw-Ruz occurred on March 21st or the Vernal Equinox...

It's the beginning of Spring....so we most often have large picnics or potlucks during the day (March 21st) and enjoy each others company. Some communities have more elaborate Naw-Ruz parties with music or maybe special dinners..

All of us though are happy because it ends the Nineteen Day Fast.

Ancient Naw-Ruz was observed in Zoroastrian religion as well.

- Art

That's really neat! Thanks for sharing.