Bahá'ís should obviously be encouraged to preserve their
inherited cultural identities, as long as the activities involved do not contravene
the principles of the Faith. The perpetuation of such cultural characteristics
is an expression of unity in diversity. Although most of these festive
celebrations have no doubt stemmed from religious rituals in bygone ages, the
believers should not be deterred from participating in those in which, over the
course of time, the religious meaning has given way to purely culturally
oriented practices. For example, Naw-Rúz itself was originally a Zoroastrian
religious festival, but gradually its Zoroastrian connotation has almost been
forgotten. Iranians, even after their conversion to Islam, have been observing
it as a national festival. Now Naw-Rúz has become a Bahá'í Holy Day and is
being observed throughout the world, but, in addition to the Bahá'í observance,
many Iranian Bahá'ís continue to carry out their past cultural traditions in
connection with this Feast. Similarly, there are a number of national customs
in every part of the world which have cultural rather than religious
connotations.
- The Universal House of Justice (From a letter dated 26 May 1982, written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice
to a National Spiritual Assembly; The Compilation of Compilations, vol. III,
Cultural Diversity in the Age of Maturity)
