For the first time, Huntsville Bahá’ís will use a new calendar to celebrate the “Twin Birthdays” of their religion’s founders on two consecutive days. These are Bahá’í holy days when work is suspended and the Huntsville Bahá’í community holds commemorative events.

The Birth of the Báb, November 13, commemorates the 1819 birth in Shiraz, Persia, of Siyyid ‘Ali-Muhammad, whose title “The Báb,” translates as “the Gate.” The Báb was the herald who prepared the way for Bahá’u’lláh, the founder of the Bahá’í Faith.  He called on people to purify themselves for the coming day of God.

The Birth of the Báb will be observed at the Huntsville Bahá’í Center, 3209 Pulaski Pike, on Thursday, November 12 beginning at 5:30 p.m.  Dinner will be provided at 6:00 p.m., followed by a special program at 7:00 p.m.

The Birth of Bahá’u’lláh, November 14, commemorates the 1817 birth of Bahá’u’lláh (born Mirza Husayn-‘Ali) in Núr, Persia.  Bahá’u’lláh, whose name means the “Glory of God,” announced in 1863 that he is God’s messenger for this age.  His teachings and sacred writings are the basis of the Bahá’í Faith, an inclusive monotheistic faith that has grown to more than five million believers in nearly every country and territory across the globe.

The Birth of Bahá’u’lláh will be observed also at the Huntsville Bahá’í Center on Friday, November 13 beginning at 5:30 p.m. The program will include a catered dinner at 6:00 p.m., followed by a showing of the full-length feature film, “Luminous Journey.” Watch a trailer of the Luminous Journey, here.

Bahá’u’lláh proclaimed that God sends Divine messengers, or manifestations of God, with teachings that enable humanity to know and to worship God.  These manifestations of the Creator have appeared throughout history every 500 to 1,000 years, bringing human civilization to ever higher levels of spiritual and material advancement.  Bahá’u’lláh is the latest in this long line of Divine messengers, which has included Abraham, Krishna, Moses, Zoroaster, Buddha, Jesus Christ, Muhammad, and the Báb.

Until now, Bahá’ís have observed certain holy days according to the solar calendar for communities in much of the world, and a lunar calendar for communities in the Middle East. This implied that some holy days would be celebrated on different dates, depending on where in the world a Bahá’í lived. The Bahá’í community is now implementing a new calendar on a world-wide basis.

The adoption of the new calendar, the “Badí” calendar, is a symbol of the power of Divine Revelation in each era of a new manifestation as human perception of material, social, and spiritual reality is reshaped. Through it, sacred moments are distinguished, humanity’s place in time and space reimagined, and the rhythm of life recast.

The Bahá’í Faith has been active in Huntsville since the mid-1950’s and offers devotional programs, children’s classes and study circles for spiritual education for people of all backgrounds. For information, visit huntsvillebahais.com or email hsvlsa9@gmail.com. The Bahá’í Faith is represented in most cities across the Tennessee Valley and Alabama, as well as in every state and thousands of communities throughout the United States.  To learn more about the Bahá’í Faith in America, visit www.bahai.us.