Interfaith Days: Declaration of the Bab

Shrine of the Bab in Haifa, Israel,
from http://bahai.uga.edu/2004/040523.html

"While many Americans will be celebrating Memorial Day this weekend, approximately 5 million adherents of the Bahá’í faith will be celebrating the beginning of their religion: the Declaration of the Báb. The celebration commenced two hours, 11 minutes after sunset Friday, according to The Huffington Post, which is the exact time that the Báb declared himself." Thus this site calls attention to this important day for Baha'is, who cease work and celebrate the day with prayers and storytelling. The Bab (Siyyid Ali Muhammad Shirazi, 1819-1850), was a Persian merchant who declared himself the Bab (the gate or door) who was the Shi'i (promised one), and the spiritual return of Elijah, John the Baptist, and the saoshyant of Zoroastrian eschatology. He was also forerunner of Baha'u'llah, the founder of the Baha'i faith. http://www.bahai.org/the-bab/