AS THE Bahá'í Fast comes to a close, springtime begins, and a new year unfolds. It's Naw-Rúz, the first day of the new year in the Bahá'í calendar. With Bahá'ís present in 100,000 localities in over 200 countries and territories around the world, the event is a global celebration. In most countries, Bahá'ís gather together for prayers, dancing, singing, and dining. Hie over to the "The Largest Bahá'í Facebook Group Ever", and you'll see how Naw-Ruz captivates communities around the world.
Naw-Rúz has roots in Nowruz, the traditional Iranian celebration that welcomes the first day of spring. 'Abdu'l-Bahá, Son of the Founder of the Bahá'í Faith, has written about the advent of springtime:
The turning and falling of the autumn leaves is past; the bleakness of the winter time is over. The new year hath appeared and the spiritual springtime is at hand. The black earth is becoming a verdant garden; the deserts and mountains are teeming with red flowers; from the borders of the wilderness the tall grasses are standing like advance guards before the cypress and jessamine trees; while the birds are singing among the rose branches like the angels in the highest heavens, announcing the glad-tidings of the approach of that spiritual spring, and the sweet music of their voices is causing the real essence of all things to move and quiver.
Happy Naw-Rúz to everyone around the world!
