Switzerland

Celebrations from Around the Globe

Below is a glimpse of celebrations honoring the bicentenary of the birth of the Báb in many localities across the country

Switzerland

Geneva, Switzerland, brings neighbors together to celebrate

Several dozen people from a neighborhood in Geneva, Switzerland, joined in a festive celebration of the bicentenary of the birth of the Báb in a beautifully prepared space, enjoying prayers, viewing of the film Dawn of the Light, and performances of music and dancing. Children took part in arts and crafts in a program of prepared especially for them.

Switzerland

Community members take the stage to introduce the life of the Báb

For their commemoration of the bicentenary, a few members of the community in Lugano, Switzerland, staged a theatrical performance recounting the life of the Báb. The play, entitled La Porta del Cielo, which means gate of heaven, gave accounts of several episodes of the Báb’s life.

Switzerland

Gathering in Northeastern Switzerland inspires discussion on community building

Sixty friends from the cantons of Neuchâtel and Jura in Switzerland gathered at Jeanjaquet Castle in reverent ambience to mark the bicentenary of the birth of the Báb. Performances offered included violin and flute music and a dramatic reading of a poem describing the night of the declaration of the Báb. Attendees were moved to engage afterwards in thoughtful discussions about working together with friends and neighbors to advance the community.

Switzerland

Celebrating the bicentenary with a community feast and service projects

Youth carried out acts of service inspired by their study of Bahá’í writings during a week-long gathering in Schaffhausen, Switzerland. The group of young people who attended the gathering, invited families to a community feast full of songs, games, and conversations exploring spiritual themes. Using materials donated by a paint shop, the youth also repainted and beautified two walls in a neighborhood park and wrote these words of Bahá’u’lláh: “So powerful is the light of unity that it can illuminate the whole earth.” and “The earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens.”

Switzerland

In The Hague, community celebrates with the arts

A cheerful atmosphere characterizes a community celebration in The Hague, Netherlands, which commemorates the bicentenary with a gathering that features Persian and Iraqi music as well as a visual arts exhibition. The organizers also imaginatively constructed three “story tents”, in which accounts are shared about the heroic deeds of Táhirih, Mullá Ḥusayn, and Quddús, three early believers of the Báb, in an interactive way. The attendees also share a communal meal featuring Indonesian dishes.

Switzerland

An immersive theater experience in Zurich, Switzerland, draws emotional responses

Inspired by the bicentenary of the birth of the Báb, friends in Zurich, Switzerland created an immersive theatrical environment based on a Persian teahouse in the mid-19th century. While enjoying traditional delicacies, guests became visibly touched by the tales of the life of the Báb that were shared with them by actors portraying fellow teahouse “patrons.”

Switzerland

Radio interview about the Bahá’í Faith from Switzerland

A radio interview of a woman from Zurich, Switzerland, explores Bahá’í beliefs, history, principles and daily activities, in German. Also included are the voices of young people and children describing their values and recounting experiences of activities in their communities, in French and English.

Switzerland

Prayer of the Báb put to music

A group of young people in Switzerland put a prayer of the Báb to music in honor of His upcoming bicentenary.

Switzerland

Music honoring the appearance of the Báb’s Revelation

A group of musicians in the French-speaking part of Switzerland perform songs of quotations from the Writings of the Báb and Bahá’u’lláh put to music. Moved to reflect on the coming of the Báb and His Revelation, the group composed a piece entitled “The Dawn is Coming.”

Switzerland

Swiss community celebrates bicentenary over the course of three days

The Bahá’í community of Bern, Switzerland, celebrates the bicentenary over the course of three days. On the first day, a series of workshops links the lives of the early followers of the Báb to the local community’s current efforts to help individuals develop spiritual qualities as well as foster neighborhood fellowship. On the second day, festivities include a viewing of the film Dawn of the Light followed by a rich discussion, and on the third day, a spiritual reflection is initiated over brunch.

Switzerland

Engaging exploration of the history and principles of the Bahá’í Faith

In Lausanne, Switzerland, attendees of a celebration learned about the teachings of the Báb as reported in 19th century newspaper articles to illustrate the historical context of His life and mission.

Switzerland

Commemoration in Pully, Switzerland, draws over 100 attendees

About 130 people came together in Pully, Switzerland, to commemorate the bicentenary of the birth of the Báb, enjoying thoughtful discussions on topics relevant to the occasion and a live dramatic performance of a story from the life of Táhirih, an early follower of the Báb in Persia and present-day globally recognized champion of women’s rights.

Switzerland

Celebrating the bicentenary in Geneva, Switzerland

In Geneva, Switzerland, the community celebrated the bicentenary with many people who have recently embraced the teachings of the Bahá’í Faith. The celebration included prayers, music, and a recitation of a poem of Táhirih, an early heroine of the Faith.