The Calendar Timeline
Most of the world's countries and cultures use the Gregorian calendar, but some base their calendars on more ancient systems. Other countries have adopted an alternative calendar at some point in their history.
3761 BC - Jewish calendar starts
2637 BC - Original Chinese calendar starts
45 BC - Julian calendar adopted by Roman Empire
0 - Christian calendar starts
79 - Hindu calendar starts
597 - Julian calendar adopted in Britain
622 - Islamic calendar starts
1582 - Gregorian calendar introduced in Catholic countries
1752 - Julian calendar abandoned, Gregorian calendar adopted in Britain and America
1873 - Japan adopts the Gregorian calendar
1949 - China adopts the Gregorian calendar
THE MAYAN CALENDAR
The Mayan people lived in the present day Mexico and the neighboring parts. They built amazing pyramids and temples. They also had an astonishing knowledge of astronomy. Their culture had declined by the time Spanish invaders occupied their territory in the 16th century, but we know something about it from the remains found. The Mayan pyramid Chichen Itza, Mexico, built around 1050, has four stairways, each with 91 stairs makes a total of 365, the number of days in a year. The stairways also divide the nine terraces of each side of the pyramid into 18 segments, representing the 18 months of the Mayan calendar. The Haab or civil calendar had 18 months made up of 20 days each. Five extra days-considered unlucky- were added at the years end, known as Uayeb, giving a year of 365 days.
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| Chichen Itza- The Time Pyramid |
MONTHS IN A MAYAN CALENDAR
1. Pop
2. Uo
3. Zip
4. Zotz
5. Tzec
6. Xul
7. Yaxkin
8. Mol
9. Chen
10. Yax
11. Zac
12. Ceh
13. Mac
14. Kankin
15. Muan
16. Pax
17. Kayab
18. Cumku
The Mayan calendar uses three different dating systems in parallel, the Long Count, the Tzolkin (divine calendar), and the Haab (civil calendar). Of these, only the Haab has a direct relationship to the length of the year.
A typical Mayan date looks like this: 12.18.16.2.6, 3 Cimi 4 Zotz.
12.18.16.2.6 is the Long Count date.
3 Cimi is the Tzolkin date.
4 Zotz is the Haab date.
The Mayan calendar uses three different dating systems in parallel, the Long Count, the Tzolkin (divine calendar), and the Haab (civil calendar). Of these, only the Haab has a direct relationship to the length of the year.
A typical Mayan date looks like this: 12.18.16.2.6, 3 Cimi 4 Zotz.
12.18.16.2.6 is the Long Count date.
3 Cimi is the Tzolkin date.
4 Zotz is the Haab date.
THE GREGORIAN CALENDAR
The Gregorian calendar is the one most used nowadays. It is named after Pope Gregory XIII who introduced it in 1582. There is a leap year every four years. This means that the year corresponds closely with the astronomical year (365.24219 days) so that it is just one day out in every 3300 years.
MONTHS IN A GREGORIAN CALENDAR
January February March April May June
July August September October November December
Some non- Catholic countries like Britain refused to adopt the Gregorian calendar at first. The Julian calendar based on a solar year, the time taken for the Earth to rotate around the sun, was used previously in Britain.This is 365.24219 days, so the calendar steadily fell out of line with the seasons. in 1752. In 1752 Britain decided to correct this by adopting the Gregorian calendar. By doing so, 3 September became 14 September- and, as a result, nothing whatsoever happened in British history between 3 and 13 September 1752. Many people protested in the streets, demanding, " Give us back our 11 days!" because they believed that their lives would be shortened.
THE CHINESE CALENDAR
Present day China uses the Gorgian calendar for most purposes, but traditional festivals such as Chinese New Year take place according to the ancient Chinese calendar. Legend has it that this was started during the reign of Emperor Huangdi in 2637 BC, and relates to the position of the Moon and the Sun. It follows a 60 year cycle which combines a heavenly stem and earthly branch, represented by a zodiac animal. The first year of the cycle is jia-zi, the second yi-cho, and so on; the 11th year is jia-xu, 12th yi-haiand 13th bing-zi. This continues until the 60th year (gui-hai) and then starts again.
Chinese calendar and Gregorian equivalents
Heavenly stems Earthly branches Zodiac Animal Gregorian year beginning
Chinese calendar and Gregorian equivalents
Heavenly stems Earthly branches Zodiac Animal Gregorian year beginning
1. jia 1. zi (rat) Dog 10 Feb 1994
2. yi 2. chou (ox) Pig 31 Jan 1995
3. bing 3. yin (tiger) Rat 19 Feb 1996
4. ding 4. mao (rabbit) Ox 7 Feb 1997
5. wu 5. chen (dragon) Tiger 28 Jan 1998
6. ji 6. si (snake) Hare 16 Feb 1999
7. geng 7. wu (horse) Dragon 5 Feb 2000
8. xin 8. wei (sheep) Snake 24 Jan 2001
9. ren 9. shen (monkey) Horse 12 Feb 2002
10. gui 10. you (rooster) Sheep 1 Feb 2003
11. xu (dog) Monkey 22 Jan 2004
12. hai (pig) Rooster 9 Feb 2005
THE HEBREW AND ISLAMIC CALENDARS
The Hebrew (Jewish) and Islamic (Muslim) calendars are based on the Lunar (Moon) cycle. Every month starts approximately on the day of a new moon, or when a crescent is first seen after a new moon. But because the visibility of the Moon varies according to the weather, the start date cannot be determined in advance, so printed calendars may vary by a few days. Tishri/Muharram corresponds approximately with September/October in the Gregorian calendar, Heshvan/Safar with October/November, and so on.
Hebrew months Islamic months
1 Tishri Muharram
2 Heshvan Safar
3 Kislev Rabi'a I
4 Tevet Rabi'a II
5 Shevat Jumada I
6 Adar Jumada II
7 Nisan Rajab
8 Iyar Sha'ban
9 Sivan Ramadan
10 Tammuz Shawwal
11 Av Dhu al-Q'adah
12 Elul Dhu al-Hijjah
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