Mine Rich in Gems

Questions

• What is the 19 Day Feast? 

  The 19 Day Feast is held at the beginning of each Bahá’í Month. There are 19 Bahá’í months, each with 19 days.  There are several Holy Days in the Bahá’í calendar, 9 of which Bahá’ís are asked to take off from work or school. Each Bahá’í Month has a special name.  Read more. 

  Bahá’í Months and Feast Days (first day of the month)

  • 1 Bahá (Splendour) –  March 20 or 21
  • 2 Jalál (Glory) – April 8 or 9 April
  • 3 Jamál (Beauty) – April 27 or 28
  • 4 ‘Azamat (Grandeur) – May 16 or 17
  • 5 Núr (Light) – June 4 or 5
  • 6 Raḥmat (Mercy) – June 23 or 24
  • 7 Kalimát (Words) – July 12 or 13
  • 8 Kamál (Perfection) – July 31 or August 1
  • 9 Asmá’ (Names) – August 19 or 20
  • 10 ‘Izzat (Might) –  September 7 or 8
  • 11 Mashíyyat (Will) – September 26 or 27
  • 12 ‘Ilm (Knowledge) –  October 15 or 16
  • 13 Qudrat (Power) –  November 3 or 4
  • 14 Qawl (Speech) –  November 22 or 23
  • 15 Masá’il (Questions) – December 11 or 12
  • 16 Sharaf (Honour) – December 30 or 31
  • 17 Sulṭán (Sovereignty) – January 18 or 19
  • 18 Mulk (Dominion) – February 6 or 7
  • Ayyám-i-Há (Intercalary Days) – Floats between February 25 and March 1
  • 19 ‘Alá’ (Loftiness) – Month of Fasting
• What is the Bahá'í Calendar?

  It’s also known as the Bádí (“Wondrous” or “Create Anew”) Calendar.  It was started by the Báb and explained more by Bahá’u’lláh, both of Whom are the Founders of the Bahá’í Faith.  It is a calendar based on both the sun and the moon where each year is 365 days and each month is 19 days with 19 months.  There are intercalary days between the 18th and 19th month – that 4-5 days long – and mark a time of gift-giving, charity work and cheer before the 19 Day Fast of the 19th month before the New Year (Naw-Rúz).  Read more. 

• What are Feast Pages for Kids?

  We began creating packets of activities to share at the 19 Day Feast in December 2017.  We worked on a 19 day schedule which was amazing to think and work in this new way. We edited them and asked for the Review Office at the Bahá’í National Center in Illinois to assist us in making sure they were accurate. We published them in bundles of 4 months – in paperback books available for purchase. When we did that we also started to charge for the downloads in 2019. In 2020 we changed website platforms and didn’t charge or offer the downloads.  Now in 2021 we are now able to improve our new website and can offer the downloads again – and for free. 

• What age group are Feast Pages for Kids for? 

  from ages 2 to 102 – different elements of the ‘Pages’ can be enjoyed by young and old.  Volume 1 is for easier reading while Volume 2 stories are for more advanced readers. The other elements like coloring pages, arts and crafts, word games, music suggestions can all be enjoyed by all ages depending on one’s interests. If it is too hard – work in groups to help each other.  Other times it is great to use certain pages for alone time work. 

• What's in each Feast Pages for Kids issue? 
  • Questions – to explore and learn about the Bahá’í Calendar and Writings
  • Gems Kids Talk  – to practice dialogue and skits
  • Coloring Pages – to relax and use arts and color
  • Word Puzzles – to strengthen vocabulary and thinking skills
  • Arts and Crafts – to create together and offer as generous gifts
  • Snacks – healthy and fun creations to serve to others
  • Story and Music Suggestions – to inspire
  • and an inspiring message about the Bahá’í Fund
• Can they be used with the Ruhi Children's Classes and Junior Youth Groups? 

  Yes. They can be used for the 19 Day Feasts, for Holy Days, to support Children’s Classes and Junior Youth Groups.  They can be used to support home schooling curriculum, interfaith lessons for those of other faiths wishing to learn a little more about the Bahá’í Faith. 

• Can we translate them into other languages?

  Yes. Please feel free to do that now. 

• Why are they free now and not before?

  In 2017 we offered the Feast Pages for Kids as a gift to the world, and in 2021 we’re doing that again. But in 2018 we started to charge for the Feast Pages for Kids because it was our business of  full-time work – creating, editing, producing, printing, and promoting them and other of our books. We really want them to be useful to everyone and our business has changed, so we are now able to offer these as a gift to the world. We so appreciate the support of many before with their purchase of the 19 Day Feast Pages for Kids, and of anyone who sees and finds a great use for them. Thank you. 

• I have some ideas for Feast Pages and Children's Classes or Junior Youth Groups, how do I share?

  Please contact us – we would love to share your materials and help you write a guest blog which we will share on our site and send out in our newsletter.  We can also help you link any materials here and with others. We can also help you get your materials out on YouTube.