From the National Spiritual Assembly: the commemoration of the Twin Holy Birthdays

The National Spiritual Assembly provides some comments on the recent letter from the Universal House of Justice, dated 8 September 2015, regarding the commemoration of the Twin Holy Birthdays:

In its letter dated 8 September 2015, the Universal House of Justice provided guidance about the commemoration of the Twin Holy Birthdays, clarifying that refraining from work and gathering for observances are required on both days. At its meeting this past weekend, the National Spiritual Assembly studied this guidance and considered questions posed by several Local Spiritual Assemblies. We were inspired by the forethought and loving attention being given to these events and wished to offer you the following comments.

For the first time in human history the birthdays of these two “most precious Beings” will be joyously celebrated around the world according to the Badí‘ calendar. We have no doubt that generations to come will recall the honour felt by those participating in these historic occasions when these two days, “accounted as one in the sight of God,” are commemorated this year in Twin Festivals. We are also confident that the friends everywhere will wish to seize this “priceless opportunity to reach out to friends, family, and the wider society and share with them the significance of the lives and missions of these two most precious Beings.”  We see that creative attention is being given in communities everywhere to ways that the devotional and social life of the community can be strengthened through the gatherings of the friends on these days. May the spirit of the commemorations draw the hearts of all the friends nearer to these two holy Beings, the Daysprings of His invisible Essence, the Most Exalted, the All Glorious, on whom we call in our prayers.

Questions have arisen concerning whether it would be appropriate to hold two separate programs, before and after sunset, on the same Gregorian calendar day. As you know, the Bahá’í day begins and ends at sunset, and there are no particular hours specified for the commemoration of the births of the Báb and Bahá’u’lláh.  While there is therefore freedom to arrange for gatherings at any time during these two Bahá’í days, we pray that the planning will be invested with a sense of the joyful, sacred and historic nature of this moment. It will be equally important that plans take into account the friends’ longing to celebrate in the ways the House of Justice has described, drawing in their family, friends and acquaintances.

There will be special attention given in Bahá’í Canada to the experience of communities large and small in celebrating these blessed Days, and we look eagerly forward to your accounts.