The Intercalary Days (Ayyám-i-Há) from 26 February through 1 March come at the end of the Bahá' í calendar, which is made up of 19 months of 19 days each. Ayyám-i-Há adjusts the Bahá' í year to the solar cycle. These days are set aside for hospitality, gift-giving, special acts of charity, and preparing for the Fast.
Mom sent me an Ayyám-i-Há package with gifts and cards for each day!--the card (above) is especially beautiful: embroidery on paper. I'm not a practicing Bahá' í but I appreciate the importance of celebration. Every religion has its party before fasting (or the fasting equivalent).
10 comments:
And there's a whole host of ridiculous "Intercalary Days" songs to go with it! Oh, silly silly Ayyam-i-Ha.
yay! Do you know about Ayyám-i-Há and Ayyám-i-Há songs? I used to know some, maybe.
oh, pretty, desire, love... embroidery on stained paper... ah, ... oh... how i wish i could sew.
it's good that this is a holiday because i am sending you presents tomorrow! xoxo
I was taught one that involved the word "intercalary" repeated multiple times. I remember thinking that "intercalary" is just too long to be in a chorus. Oh well.
Is it "Intercalary" or "Inter-calendary"? Now I'm not so sure. Probably Ayyam-i-Ha songs are better off sung in Pharsi. IF I remember correcty Ayyam-i-Ha means something like "days of light." That's much better sounding. Somewhere I have some "learn to speak Pharsi" tapes. I should find them.
Yay! Presents from Jessica! This card does make me want to sew. Maybe we could start with needlepoint patterns?
It's "intercalary." Such an odd word. They need a new word. Like "Betweenmas." That's nice.
Yes, you're right. Like February 29th is an intercalary day:
in·ter·ca·lar·y
adj.
Inserted in the calendar to make the calendar year correspond to the solar year. Used of a day or month.
Having such a day or month inserted. Used of a year.
Inserted between other elements or parts; interpolated.
Latin intercalrius, intercalris, from intercalre, to intercalate.
i like this word. it sounds like a rhinestone abacus.
I wrote a bunch of poems today over donuts and coffee at the beach. Maybe they'll be in honor of Ayyam-i-Ha and intercalary days. It is the end of February, after all.
Post a Comment