A New Thread in The Tapestry That Is Pickering

A New Thread in The Tapestry That Is Pickering

The Pickering community is the construction of a never-ending tapestry, the weaving of which all individuals, families and cultural groups contribute threads. The threads of each person, family and cultural group add their unique characteristics to the overall beauty and picture of the community –each adding their own personal color and unique texture. Unity in our diversity.

Within the Faith communities in Pickering there exists a similar tapestry woven together by the eternal truths espoused by the prophets of God; Noah, Abraham, Krishna, Moses, Zoroaster, Buddha, Jesus Christ, Mohammed, The Báb and Baha’u’llah.

Each of these Faith communities celebrate or commemorate various holy days throughout the year according to the Gregorian calendar, Lunar calendar or the Badí calendar.

Some of the celebrations which sometimes involve gift-giving, hospitality, meditation and acts of charity are well-known, such as- Jewish Hannukah, Christian Christmas, Buddhist Rohatsu, Zoroastrian Naw Ruz, Islam’s Eid ul Fitr and Eid ul Adha, Hindu Diwali.

Less known is the Bahá’í celebration of Ayyám-i-Há or Days of Há As the youngest world religion (1844), Bahá’ís celebrate Ayyám-i-Há or Intercalary Days for 4 or 5 days at the end of February depending on if it is a leap year or not. The Badí calendar consists of 19 months of 19 days which totals 361 days, which leaves 4 or 5 days between the end of the year and the beginning of the fasting period. These “between” or intercalary days have been set aside for Bahá’ís to show hospitality, do acts of charity, and exchange small gifts.

They also are a prelude to the Bahá’í Nineteen Day Fast where Bahá’ís fast from food and water from dawn to sunset each of the 19 days from March 1st until sunset on March 20th. The Fast is meant for each Bahá’í to contemplate their spiritual lives and to recommit to their path as a Bahá’í.

The Bahá’í Community of Pickering would like to wish all Faiths and people in Pickering a happy and spiritually-refreshing time during the Days of Há as we bring an added thread to Pickering’s tapestry.

https://www.bahaisofpickering.org

https://www.facebook.com/pickeringbahai