| Also called the Badí'
calendar. The Bahá'í calendar was established by the Báb in the Kitáb-i-Asmá and approved by Bahá'u'lláh,
who stated that it should begin in 1844 AD (AH 1260). It is based on the solar year
of 365 days, five hours and some fifty minutes. Each year is divided into nineteen
months of nineteen days each with four Intercalary
Days (five in leap year), called Ayyám-i-Há,
which Bahá'u'lláh specified should precede the nineteenth month. New Year's Day (Naw-Rúz)
falls on the Spring Equinox. This usually occurs on 21 March but if the equinox takes
place after sunset on 21 March, Naw-Rúz is to be celebrated on 22 March, for the Bahá'í day begins and ends at sunset. |
