From sunset on Feb. 25th to sunset on March 1st, Canadian Baha’is join Baha’is around the world in celebrating the festival of Ayyam-i-Ha by spending time with friends and family, helping those in need through acts of charity, and spreading joy by giving gifts. “Ayyam-i-Ha” is an Arabic phrase which can be roughly translated as “Days of God”.
Also known as intercalary days, Ayyam-i-Ha falls outside the 19 Baha’i months of 19 days and aligns the Baha’i calendar with the 365-day Gregorian solar calendar. It also serves as a period of spiritual preparation for the annual Baha’i fast (March 2-20), when Baha’is abstain from eating and drinking from sunrise to sunset, and Naw Ruz (March 21), the Baha’i new year, celebrated on the first day of spring.
Of this period Baha’u’llah writes: “It behoveth the people of Baha, throughout these days, to provide good cheer for themselves, their kindred and, beyond them, the poor and needy, and with joy and exultation to hail and glorify their Lord, to sing His praise and magnify His Name.”