We had a lovely Birth of Baha'u'llah yesterday. The children were home, I took the day off, and so did my mum and April. There is something delicious about a day that is a gift like this.

We decorated the house with nine-pointed star banners, a new nature table set up and fresh flowers (Mum brought roses!). We made pumpkin scones for breakfast, listened to music and enjoyed a sunny day with a special lunch out and a shared cooked dinner at Lukas and April's.

I think it is sometimes hard to find meaningful ways of celebrating these Holy Days because there are no traditions, and everything must be created. But it is a very freeing and thoughtful process, too. This year I am finding it especially challenging as I do not have as much time to plan things, and because the popular culture is so pervasive. No, turkeys and reindeers are really not appropriate for this sacred day.  One thing I am trying to do is focus more on having special feelings and activities around the days. This year, I bought us a set of block crayons and a book of instructions in how to use them. We spent part of the morning engaged in this new medium, all together, focused and enjoying both a special experience and a special day.

How do you make special days "special" without commercialisng them?

Comments

[Dad - Grampa]

Lots of flowers is nice; some special scents (candles, incense); some special music (hymns, calm instrumental); a specal service project (like taking cookies to homeless people or shut-ins).

[Heather in Washington State, USA]

My favorite way to make a day special is to do something outside, even if it's raining and cold. Sometimes it's a walk at dusk, sometimes it's exploring the garden and searching for something unusual (like a flower in winter), sometimes it's actually going somewhere special, like to the mountains or a beach. Being connected to the earth is what we find most spiritually uplifting.

[Kyrie]

That's definitely the trick, isn't it? I try to do something with the girls that is both memorable and appeals to the senses. We have twelve major feast days a year in our church, and many smaller saint commemorations (usually several each month), so I want to set them apart *just enough* without making them over the top! I have moved further and further away from giving gifts on special days; I want the days to be memorable for other reasons.

I reserve special baked goods for each major feast, and we don't have them any other day of the year. We have special incense (a different scent from our regular prayer incense) that we use on feast days. I'm slowly working on other ways to celebrate in a meaningful way, I'll be interested in other people's responses!

p.s. I think your special day sounded just lovely :)

xo, K

[Georgia]

I think it's those family traditions that make these days special. It's the things the kids expect to do every time. Sometimes it's things that surprise me. We are not a religious family, so I think it becomes more important in a way to find the heart of these holidays. We always do Christmas crafts- making snowflakes for inside the house, decorating the tree, making gifts and baking. Even Christmas card making. Then there is the now annual nativity play which the kids put on for us. And being allowed to eat chocolate (and fruit) for breakfast for the only day of the year!!

[Robyn]

I, too, have struggled with what to do to celebrate the Islamic holy days. We are converted and have no prior family traditions, so each year is a new step in trying to make it our own and trying to not compare them to more commercialized holidays around the same time. We usually go to prayer, have breakfast, give a couple of presents, do some sort of modest decoration, and just try to spend time as a family doing something fun. This Eid, we are taking our family to a neat museum and I'll make a nice dinner. I really like your nine point stars as decoration. Anyways, I'm glad your family had a nice time.

[Robin]

Oh my goodness! Robyn, I am also a Robin who became Muslim 14 years ago. I sometimes find it difficult to know how to celebrate special occasions and Eid days because I also didn't grow up with those traditions. We used to spend some of those special days with a large group of friends having a big evening meal where everyone contributed. We'd go to prayers in the morning and sometimes out for breakfast. We've taken to spending more time now as a family and just try to enjoy some time together, away from all our other responsibilities.

[Robyn]

Robin - Wow! What an incredibly small and amazing world. Eid Mubarak! I wish there was a way to get in touch with you. If you check back and if you want, you can leave a comment on my somewhat defunct blog (it's still up, but I haven't updated for several months now) and I can email you back that way.
http://simplythatsillygirl.wordpress.com/
Katurah, so sorry to take over your comments section.

[Chelsea]

Linked here :-) http://www.enablemetogrow.com/2012/11/01/sharing-bahaullahs-birthday/

[Bonnie Fallahi]

Hi,

Love your blog. How do you make the nine pointed star paper cut-outs? I know there is a system for cutting them but have forgotten.

Bonnie