Holidays Around The World � march calendars

Passover Observed by Jews Around the World

Noel — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 10:00:45 +0000

Passover Date: Sunset on March 29 to sunset on April 5

Passover is a Jewish holiday and festival.

Passover is a festival celebrated by the Samaritans and the Jews remembering the escape of the Hebrews from enslavement in Egypt.

Passover in Israel is a seven-day festival of which the first and the last days are considered as holy days with abstention with work, special prayers to the Lord, and holiday meals. The other days in the middle are festival days known as Chol HaMoed. However, the Diaspora Jews historically have celebrated this festival for eight days.

History of Passover

As the story of Exodus goes in the Bible, God imposed ten plagues (calamities) upon Egypt in order to make the pharaoh free the poorly treated Hebrew slaves. The tenth and likely worst plague was the death of all the first-born children of Egypt by an Angel of Death sent by God. The Hebrew were asked to mark the doorsteps of their houses with spring lambs blood, and upon seeing this the Angel of Death would spare the first born children of the Hebrews and “pass over” to the next Egyptian residence, hence the name “Passover”.

It was only after the tenth plague that the pharaoh released the Hebrews from enslavement. It is said that when the pharaoh released the Hebrews, they left their houses in such a hurry that they couldn’t even wait for their bread to rise. In remembrance of this, leavened bread is never eaten during Passover, and the festival is referred to by many as the “Festival of Unleavened Bread”. Matza is the token symbol of this festival.

Passover Traditions, Customs and Activities

On the tenth of Nisan, an unblemished lamb is chosen and kept separately. On the evening of the fourteenth of Nisan, the lamb is slaughtered, and on the evening of the fifteenth it is cooked without removing its organs, served with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. After sunrise the next day, anything remaining from the lamb is burnt in sacrifice. This sacrifice is performed only in Jerusalem.

During the Festival of Unleavened Bread, Chametz (breads, cakes, fermented and leavened products) of any sort is not to be eaten during the seven days of this celebration. To make sure that that the households are clean from any traces of Chametz, a spring cleaning is done. Every morsel of Chametz is removed, and all the vessels and dishes which contained it are washed and cleaned thoroughly. All remaining Chametz is burnt before the start of the holy days.

In its place, Matzo, the unleavened bread which is the symbol of this festival, is made in all the houses and enjoyed with almost all food during the Passover celebrations.

The firstborn of the Jews are to fast on the first morning of Passover in remembrance to God sparing the lives of the first born during the tenth plague. The firstborn fast till the Morning Prayer on the first day of Passover.

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Palm Sunday Observed by Christians Around the World

Noel — Sun, 27 Mar 2011 10:00:15 +0000

Palm Sunday: March 28

Palm Sunday is a religious observance for Christians all over the world.

Palm Sunday is the last Sunday of Lent and marks the beginning of Holy Week. It is a celebration of the entrance of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem where he was welcomed by the people of the city with branches from the palm trees days before he was to be crucified.

History of Palm Sunday

Before Jesus entered Jerusalem to meet his death at the hands of the Romans and the Jewish authorities, he stayed in Bethany where he resurrected Lazarus. He sent some of the disciples ahead of him to get a donkey on which he could be carried as he entered Jerusalem. Additionally, he asked the owner of the house to prepare the Upper Room for the Last Supper.

As he was riding the donkey and nearing the city, everybody started to cheer him, for they believed he was the Messiah promised in the Scriptures to save them, and they remembered the recent miracle of the resurrection of Lazarus. While many people laid their clothes on the floor for Jesus to pass riding the donkey, other picked up branches from the palm trees, chanting: “Hosanna to the son of David! Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!”

Christians began to celebrate Palm Sunday as the first day of Holy Week, and they have been doing so since the eighth or ninth century.

Palm Sunday Traditions, Customs and Activities

The main liturgical ceremonies of the day are: the blessing of the palms, the procession of the entrance of Jesus in Nazareth, the daily Mass, and the singing of the Passion during Mass. Palm branches are commonly symbols of joy and victory over enemies, and in Christianity they are signs of victory over the flesh and the world.

There are many traditions on this day. In Roman times, the emperors used to distribute small presents and branches of palm among their nobles and domestic helpers. And form early celebrations of the day, palms have been blessed and used in Mass. On this day, olive branches are blessed as symbols of Jesus prayer on Mount Olive. In some countries the crosses made with palm branches are decorated with flowers and are cut to make beautiful ornaments. In the Netherlands they are decorated with candies and bread. The palm branches are kept after the celebrations and held in front of the houses as sign of welcome to Jesus and all men of good faith.

In Catholic South American countries and in the Philippines, where the Christina faith is still effervescent, it is usual to re-enact the entrance of Jesus in Jerusalem with the priest arriving at the church riding a donkey while people great him with the palm branches and lay clothes on the ground. In other countries, like Portugal, it is a normal day where the ritual of Mass differs from the usual ritual, and the branches are used in the beginning of the Mass, while not much attention is given to these old traditions that seem to fall out of interest for the younger generations.

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Truth and Justice Day Commemorated in Argentina

Noel — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 10:00:54 +0000

Truth and Justice Day: March 24

Truth and Justice Day is a public holiday in Argentina.

In Argentina, March 24 is celebrated as National Memorial Day for Truth and Justice. This day was established to commemorate the victims of the National Reorganization Process that started in 1976 with a coup. This military dictatorship, known in Argentina as the Última Dictadura, or Last Dictatorship, lasted until 1983.

History of Truth and Justice Day in Argentina

Juan Domingo Peron was a popular Argentine leader, acting as President of Argentina on three occasions. However, he had to flee into exile due to pressure and persecution by Argentina’s military, one that had always found a way to interfere with politics. Peron was democratically elected President for the third time in 1973, but died shortly in July 1974. His vice-president was his wife, Isabel Martinez de Peron, but she was weak and an ineffective ruler.

Violence escalated in Argentina, and on March 24, 1974, Isabel was overthrown and replaced by a military junta, naming Lieutenant General Jorge Rafael Videla leader. The junta began what was called the National Reorganization Process to put the chaotic socio-political situation in Argentina in order and under control.

The process was violent and repressive. Forced disappearances and illegal arrests were common. Armed soldiers would rob houses and beat the owners. Spies infiltrated into universities to suppress anti-government ideas. Official investigations found that up to 9,000 people had disappeared under what was called the Dirty War. However, the number is theorized to be as large as 30,000 as documents were destroyed by the military and cases were not reported.

Only in 1983, after elections were held under public pressure, was democracy restored and a new President, Raúl Alfonsin, elected. Even today, families in Argentina still live without knowing what happened to their relatives that disappeared during the National Reorganization Process, and some former military members are still to face justice for their crimes.

Argentina’s Truth and Justice Day Traditions, Customs and Activities

On this day in Buenos Aires, capital of Argentina, thousands of people gather in peaceful marches to ask for justice for their missing loved ones. They carry pictures of the disappeared, and emotional displays of sadness and anger erupt in tears as the crowd gathers. A group of women, called the Mothers of the Square of May, has mobilized the families of disappeared persons, leading and organizing the day’s events in the Plaza de Mayo in Buenos Aires and near the illegal detention centers of the dictatorial regime around the country.

This is a non-working day in Argentina. The Government proposed the date be movable to a closer Friday or Monday in order to make the weekend longer, but many human rights organizations opposed this option. They wanted the specific date to be remembered for the painful memories that scar the Argentinean memory and not to be an opportunity for vacations and profit from tourists companies.

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St. Joseph’s Day Celebrated by Christians Around the World

Noel — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 10:00:20 +0000

St. Joseph’s Day: March 1

St. Joseph’s Day is a religious observance for Christians all over the world.

March 19 is the date on which Christians venerate St. Joseph, husband of Mary, mother of Jesus. It is a feast in which Joseph is celebrated as patron of the universal Church; he has another feast on May 1 on which Joseph, the carpenter, is celebrated as a worker.

History of St. Joseph’s Day

Not much is known about St. Joseph; the only biblical stories that mention his presence are before the birth of Jesus and during his infancy. Even so, we do know that he was married to Mary, mother of Jesus Christ, and lived in Nazareth as a carpenter and a man of faith. These are the foundations of the Christian devotion to Saint Joseph.

It wasn’t until 1129 that the first church was dedicated to him. Only later, with appreciation of Joseph as a saint in the gospels, did he become more revered. Finally in 1621, March 19 was made a feast of obligation to Saint Joseph. The devotion to Saint Joseph increased significantly from then on, and in 1870, Pius IX declared him as patron of the Catholic Church.

As Catholic tradition states that Joseph died in the arms of Mary and Jesus, he is considered the patron saint of a happy death, by being able to die peacefully in the presence of his family. Among many other things, he is also the unofficial patron saint against doubt and hesitation, for he did as he was told by the angels when Mary became pregnant and protected her from the Law of the Jews and from persecution by Herod.

St. Joseph’s Day Traditions, Customs and Activities

In countries like Portugal and Spain, Father’s Day is also celebrated on March 19. It is a day in which children prepare gifts to give to their fathers and recognize the value of their presence in their lives. The day is celebrated close to Easter, and some years it occurs during Lent. When it does, it is much more sober feast when fasting and prayer are still observed as ordinances for the Lent Season. If it happens that it falls on the same days as Holy Week, it is moved to the next available date, since Easter takes precedence in the celebrations.

In Italy this is an important day, especially in Sicily, where St. Joseph is the patron of the city. It is said that at one point, the city went through a serious drought and food was lacking. The people of Sicily prayed to St. Joseph and promised to build a big altar of food every year for him if it rained, and soon it did.

Every year in the city, and also in many other parts of Italy, a table is set with plenty of food to offer to St. Joseph, gathered by everyone from the city. The food cannot have meat, and it always has fava beans, since this was the food in abundance at the time of the drought that saved the city from famine. The table is blessed by a priest and the feast begins. At the end, the table is destroyed and three children dressed as Joseph, Mary, and Jesus as a child go from door to door asking for shelter, staying at the home of the third knocked door. This tradition was brought to the United States by Sicilian immigrants who organize city-wide events, give food to charities, and hold parades in the Italian communities all over the US.

Also in the US, something beautiful happens in the Mission of San Juan Capristano in San Juan Capristano, California. The mission was founded in 1776 by the Franciscans and a small city grew around it. A legend says that one day a shopkeeper was destroying the nests of swallows, and a Franciscan priest stopped him in defense of the birds. On St. Joseph’s Day, the swallows return to the city year after year, after spending the winter in the warm cities of the south.

In other parts of the world there are processions in the streets with the image of the saint and everybody recalls his example of sainthood and faithfulness to the voice of the Holy Spirit.

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St. Patrick’s Day Celebrated by Many Around the Globe

Noel — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 10:00:19 +0000

St. Patrick’s Day: March 17

St. Patrick’s Day is a public holiday in Ireland and it is a festival celebrated by people in the USA, New Zealand, Australia and Canada.

St. Patrick’s Day is the annual feast day celebrated on the March 17 of every year. It is also known as Saint Paddy’s Day (colloquially) or simply the Paddy’s Day. The day celebrates St. Patrick (AD 385 – 461), who was one of Ireland’s patron saints during that period. For those people who celebrate the intended meaning of this day, Saint Patrick’s Day is the traditional day to achieve a spiritual renewal.

History of St. Patrick’s Day

Everything associated with St. Patrick’s Day is Irish: shamrocks, green and gold, and luck. But, why does the day gets celebrated on March 17?

The most popular theory holds that St. Patrick died on March 17, 493. As all saints typically have feast days associated with them, Catholics chose his date of death to honor him. St. Patrick’s Day got placed on the Catholic Church’s universal liturgical calendar due to the influence of Luke Wadding (a Franciscan scholar born in Waterford) during the early part of seventeenth century. However, it was celebrated from an earlier date in local Irish churches. It is considered a holy day for obligation of Ireland’s Roman Catholics.

No one is sure from where did the long-standing tradition to wear green or get pinched on Saint Patrick’s Day actually originated. There is a thought that it might have come from school children. Green is the apt color for this Irish holiday, as it is the one common in spring and shamrocks. It’s said that St. Patrick chose the green shamrock as a metaphor, demonstrating the holy trinity.

St. Patrick’s Day Traditions, Customs and Activities

Ever since it was considered a holiday in Ireland, there is a belief that with the spreading of the Irish people across the globe, they carried the history and celebration of the day along with them. Thus, celebrations in the U.K., U.S., Australia, New Zealand and Argentina are typical, though the day isn’t considered a public holiday.

Ireland remains the biggest observer of Saint Patrick’s Day, and it is considered a national holiday there. Almost all businesses (except pubs and restaurants) remain closed on March 17. With the day being a religious holiday, most Irish people attend a mass to offer prayers prior to the beginning of the serious celebrations.

Generally, the feast day falls in Lent. In case it falls on the Friday of Lent, obligation for abstaining from eating meat may get lifted by local bishops. Church calendars avoid the observance of the feast of saints during particular solemnities. They move the St. Patrick’s Day on a time beyond this period. There are very few cases of the day getting affected by such requirement. Thus, if the day falls in the Holy Week, it is celebrated on another date to avoid coinciding with Palm Sunday. In 1940, it was celebrated on April 3, whereas March 15 was the date of its occurrence in 2006. But there aren’t worries of this happening again any time soon; it’s not going to fall in a Holy Week again until 2160.

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Belarus Observes Constitution Day

Noel — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 10:00:57 +0000

Constitution Day: March 15

Constitution Day is a public holiday in Belarus.

In 1994, the country of Belarus gained a new constitution and the right to democratic elections. Constitution Day was celebrated as a changing for the better of a democratic Belarus. Alexander Lukashenko won those elections, but soon worked to secure his position as leader of the country through the 1996 Belarus Referendum. This highly contentious referendum altered the constitution, abolishing the parliament and putting in an assembly of cronies. Afterwards, Constitution Day lost its meaning to many people who saw Lukashenko’s changes as a destruction of democracy.

History of Constitution Day in Belarus

After Belarus severed connections with the Soviet Union in July 1990, work set out to bring democracy to the people. A new constitution came into effect on March 15, 1994, allowing for democratic elections. The people of Belarus marked March 15 as Constitution Day, and at first they were excited. In two-part elections in June and July 1994, Alexander Lukashenko was elected as president of the country.

Lukashenko quickly made enemies by refusing to install real free-market reform to Belarus. The World Bank and the IMF both severed funding to the country in 1995. But Lukashenko wanted more control, and in July 1996, he asked the legislature to extend his term from five to seven years, add a second chamber of legislature, and add a constitutional court for which he’d appoint half of its members. Under his proposition, Lukashenko would also be immune to prosecution for life and would be able to dissolve the parliament at will. He threatened to hold a referendum if the legislature refused.

In November, Lukashenko, determined to hold his referendum, declared that the results would be legally binding. This incited Viktor Gonchar, chief electoral officer, to declare the referendum unconstitutional. On November 15, Lukashenko dismissed Gonchar, and the parliament began with impeachment proceedings. Protests erupted and officials resigned. Lukashenko’s pushed the Belarus Referendum despite the chaos, and on November 25, he declared it passed with 70.5 percent approval. The next day, Lukashenko dissolved the original parliament and set up a new one with his own supporters. Impeachment proceedings were suddenly dropped by the constitutional court.

On March 15, 1997, a massive protest with more than 10,000 people was held in Minsk, the countries capital. “Marchers chanted, ‘’Down with Lukashenko!’ and ‘Freedom! Independence!’,” reported the New York Times. One of the more poignant demonstrations of the malice placed towards the constitution occurred on Constitution Day in 2005. Dzmitryy Dashkevich, an opposition activist, brought three black coffin-like structures to October Square in Minsk, claiming they represented three “funerals” for the constitution in 1995, 1996, and 2004, times when the constitution was altered further away from democracy.

Another highly contested election in 2006 saw Lukashenko remain in power, prompting even more to demonstrate. Protests and demonstrations have since been commonplace on Constitution Day, a day that is flaunted for its importance by state-run agencies.

Belarus’ Constitution Day Traditions, Customs and Activities

An air of fear is said to surround anti-Lukashenko activists. Fears of being imprisoned, tortured, or spied on by the KGB have all been mentioned by the more vocal of protestors. What originally was seen as a reason to celebrate democracy in an independent Belarus is now scoffed at as state propaganda hiding a dictator-like regime. Human rights days have become increasingly popular as people pressure Lukashenko to answer to the imprisonment and death of many opposition figures. Constitution Day is seemingly derided as a joke and the death of democracy and independence in the country. As such, it’s not celebrated by many as a real holiday.

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Andorra Celebrates Its Constitution

Noel — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 10:00:58 +0000

Constitution Day: March 14

Constitution Day is a public holiday in Andorra.

Constitution Day in Andorra is celebrated on March 14. It is one of four days in the tiny European country when everything must close for business, along with New Years Day, National Day, and Christmas. It is a day that commemorates the referendum of March 14, 1993, in which the country’s constitution was approved with 74 percent support of Andorrans.

History of Constitution Day in Andorra

The Principality of Andorra is governed by the supreme law of the constitution of Andorra. Andorra is a fairly isolated country in southwestern Europe. It has remained out of the mainstream history of Europe, holding only loose ties to France and Spain.

Recently Andorra has grown due to an increase in tourism, better communication tools, and streamlined transportation systems. By 1993, the country needed to renew its own laws and refresh the political system, looking forward to joining the United Nations and the Council of Europe. It was then that the new constitution was elaborated and adopted on February 2, 1993.
Later, on March 14, a referendum was held and the Constitution was approved by the people of Andorra. It entered into force on April 28.

One curiosity that can be found in the constitution, from Articles 43 to 49, is the fact that Andorra recognizes two co-princes, the Bishop of Urgell and the President of France, in a system that has existed for centuries and seems to be unique in the world. This happened primarily because Andorra during the 12th century was ceded to the Bishop of Urgell by the Count Ermengol IV of Urgell.

Andorra’s Constitution Day Traditions, Customs and Activities

On this day, all businesses in Andorra are closed, even though the government in recent years has allowed shops in areas visited by tourists and in ski resorts to remain open. But, all over the country everything else is closed for business. There are special messages from the co-princes and government officials broadcast through TV and radio. The whole country is filled with colorful flags of blue, red, and yellow, and there are cultural events organized all over the country. In the capital, Andorra la Vella, there are fireworks displays at the end of the day and concerts.

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International Women’s Day Celebrated Around the World

Noel — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 11:00:20 +0000

International Women’s Day: March 8

International Women’s Day is a public holiday in several countries worldwide.

Generally observed worldwide, International Women’s Day offers people the opportunity to highlight challenges that women face around the world and signs of hope for the work done to promote women. While some cultures have removed the political nature of it and use it as a day to show love to women, others have retained the strong political themes, promoting human rights for women around the world. The day is typically not considered a public holiday, but is given prominence in many parts of the world.

History of International Women’s Day

March 8, 1857 marks when women in New York protested, demanding better working conditions and better wages. The protesters were dispersed by the police, and two years later, the women created their own labor union. More protests were held in following years on the same date of March 8. In 1910, Copenhagen hosted the first international women’s conference, and an International Women’s Day was instituted, though no date was officially set.

On the eve of World War I, women from all over Europe came together in peaceful protests on March 8, 1913. March 8 entered the calendars as International Women’s Day first in the former USSR as a celebration of heroic and patriotic Soviet women that participated in the communistic construction of the USSR and defense of the Motherland. Since then, the date has found its way in the calendars of countries all over the world.

International Women’s Day Traditions, Customs and Activities

In countries like Albania, Italy, and Russia, yellow mimosas and chocolates are common gifts given to women on International Women’s Day. Many other Eastern European countries also have flower-giving customs. In Poland, feminist demonstrations are held in many major cities. In Benin and many other African countries, the day is used to highlight the public health, human rights, and socioeconomic problems that women have to struggle with. Armenia has combined the day with its own Beauty and Motherhood Day on April 7 to make a month-long celebration of women between the two days.

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Holi

Noel — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 14:07:15 +0000

Holi Date: March 01

Holi Festival is celebrated in India.

One of the more popular festivals emerging out of the mystical land of India is Holi. The festival that is believed to have had its origins millions of years ago where gods ruled the earth is a celebration of good over evil. The festival celebrates the burning of a Hindu demoness, Holika. The story goes that Prahlad, the son of the demon lord Hiranyakashipu was a staunch devotee of Lord Vishnu. Hiranyakashipu was a staunch devotee of Lord Brahma and by incessant penance to his god, had attained the power of invincibility.

Holi History

It was granted that Hiranyakashipu could not be killed during night or day not on earth or sea and not inside or outside the house. When Hiranyakashipu was angered at his son’s devotion to Lord Vishnu, it was his will to kill him. With several measures attempted at killing his son, Hiranyakashipu asked his own sister, the demoness Holika to step into the fire with Prahlad in her lap. The festival of Holi celebrates the death of Holika in this fire and the miraculous escape of Prahlad.

Holi Traditions and Activities

Holi is a festival that is observed with a lot of fan fare in India. The festival is one that is celebrated by all the religions in India. The festival although being associated more with the Hindus than anyone else, is one that is devoid of religion based celebration. The celebrations in the more staunch part of India involve bonfires that are recreated to depict the burning of Holika.

Most parts of India however celebrate the festival by throwing colors on each other’s bodies. The colors are mixed with water and are applied on each other. This celebration originated and was made famous by Lord Krishna, who is said to have applied colors to the Gopis (cow herd girls) around him. The act was done in order to make Krishna not feel down because of his darker complexion as compared to that of Radha.

The practice is a regular sight on the streets of India during the occasion of Holi. The celebrations itself can take place anywhere from as short a duration as 3 days to as many as 16 days long. The festival apart from being widely celebrated in India also has its followers in nearby Pakistan and Nepal. There is also a distinct association that Holi has with love.

Holi is celebrated almost throughout India, except for a few places in the south where traditional North Indian communities are few. The festival also is common practice in Indian populated places like the United Kingdom, West Indies, Mauritius and Fiji.

Interesting facts about Holi Festival
The God of Love Kamadeva is said to have an influence on the festival as well and its occurrence in the spring months does strengthen the festival’s association with love.

Among the places to celebrate Holi is Uttar Pradesh, where the town of Barsana plays host to an amazing display of women beating men with sticks and accompanying the celebrations with songs and dance.

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The Nineteen Day Fast Observed by the Followers of Bahá’í

Noel — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 11:00:14 +0000

Nineteen Day Fast: March 2

Nineteen Day Fast is a religious observance for the followers of Bahá’í.

The annual Nineteen Day Fast is observed by followers of Baha’i all over the world from March 2 to March 20. It is a time for spiritual purification, reflection on spiritual progress and detachment from material desires. Besides obligatory prayer, the Nineteen Day Fast is one of the greatest Baha’i obligations.

History of Nineteen Day Fast

The Nineteen Day Fast was instituted by the Báb and accepted by Bahá’u'lláh in the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, his book of laws. The Báb instituted the Badí’ calendar in the Persian Bayán, a collection of his principal scriptural writings. The calendar has 19 months with 19 days each, plus intercalary days that bring the total to 365 days in a year.

In the same book he stated that the last month, the month of Ala, would be a month of fasting, complete abstinence from all except from the love of the Manifestation of God. At the time, the Báb also wrote that the Nineteen Day Fast would still have to be approved by Him Whom God Shall Make Manifest, who was to be the Bahá’u'lláh, the founder of the Bahá’í Faith.

He did accept the fasting but changed many of the regulations left by the Báb. These were written in the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, where he states that fasting is to be observed from sunrise to sunset during the Baha’i month of Ala, beginning March 2 with the termination of the Intercalar Days and ending March 20 with the Naw-Ruz Festival. Abstinence from food, drink, and smoking is obligatory for all but the sick or traveling faithful.

Nineteen Day Fast Traditions, Customs and Activities

All Baha’is older than 15 are obliged to observe the Nineteen Day Fast during the prescribed dates. Followers of Baha’i usually wake up before dawn to have breakfast and pray, and during the day observe the fasting regulations. At sunset, when the fasting is finished, the people get together to enjoy a full meal.

Baha’is are obliged to abstain from eating, drinking, and smoking from sunrise to sunset. In some regions where the durations of days and night vary considerably, the times of fasting are set by clock hours. Those who are younger than 15 or older than 70 or those who are ill, engaged in heavy labor, pregnant, nursing, or menstruating are exempt from fasting. Additionally, those traveling longer than 9 hours, or 2 hours by foot are exempt.

During the Nineteen Day Fast, followers join together in prayer, reading from the scriptures of the Báb and Bahá’u'lláh as a reminder of the pillars of their faith.

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