Happy Naw-RÄ‚Ĺźz!

It’s a big day for members of St. Albert’s Bahá'Ă­ faith community as they celebrate Naw-RÄ‚Ĺźz and for many of them, that means it’s finally time to break their fasts.

Arno Brocken, a Bahá'í for more than 30 years, said that the practice of not eating or drinking between sunrise and sunset is a way of helping each person to set their focus away from their physical beings.

“Essentially, it is for ourselves to make the time of meditation for spiritual renewal, and make adjustments to our spiritual life. We believe that the essence of our lives is spiritual, not the material life,” he said.

The Bahá'í calendar features 19 months, each with 19 days and four intercalary (or extra days). The fast occurs during the last month called Alá. Today marks the new year and the first day of first month, which is called Bahá.

Brocken said that the practice is not as hard as many people might think.

“In the West, we always get the remark, ‘Wow! I could never do that.’ Yes, we can. If we have the motivation, it’s not that difficult,” he continued, adding, “Religion does not make us do things that are not good for us or that are impossible for us. Religion is about sensible things. Why would God want you to do something that is detrimental to your health?”

His fellow Bahá'í Renie Zeitz stated that she became exempt from participating after she turned 70, just as pregnant or nursing women and youths under 15 are exempt as well.

The Bahá'í faith originated in Persia in 1844, thus making this the first day of 172 BE (meaning the Bahá'í Era). It ties in to the Vernal Equinox, something that Brocken suggested is a very important metaphor to the religion.

“The equinox is a time when the axis of the Earth is in such a way that both north and south are equally illuminated. Every time it happens, in a spiritual sense, the whole world is illuminated by this new spiritual revelation that takes place in Creation.”

The day also coincides with the United Nation’s International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, another cause that is very important to the members of the Bahá'Ă­ faith.

Naw-RÄ‚Ĺźz is about bringing people together as one in a community of love and acceptance. It’s a relatively modest-sized faith community in this city with only a few dozen members, and they are joined by their family, friends and other supporters for the cultural celebration that will feature special performances by MĂ©tis fiddler Riel Aubichon and members of the Edmonton Festival Ballet.

Just like any other holiday, the Bahá’Ă­ don’t work or go to school on Naw-RÄ‚Ĺźz. Unlike other New Year’s celebrations in the West, there won’t be any drinking (Bahá’Ă­ don’t drink), just as there likely won’t be any fireworks, as it’s a small, more private and casual congregation of people.

“Every community is probably different,” Zeitz added. “There are no set rituals.”

“It’s just a good time with good company,” Brocken said.