Haab' Calendar

The Haab' used 365 days.  It was divided by 18 months of 20 days each, with an extra five days, known as "uayeb".  There are no years on the Haab' calendar.

Long Count Calendar

The Mesoamerican Long Count Calendar is a calendar used by a number of Mesoamerican cultures.  By "Mesoamerican", I mean a flourishing population and cultural area extending from central Mexico to Nicaragua and Honduras, that lasted until the Spanish colonization during the 1400s and 1500s.  Essentially, Mesoamerica means "Middle America".

The Mayan Long Count calendar, still used by several Mayan communities in the highlands of Guatemala, shows cycles of time (lasting 5,125.25 years) moving from one to the next.  Each cycle is represented by a higher evolution of mankind.  We are currently in the fifth and final cycle of the calendar, and will, apparently on the 21st of December, 2012 head into another Great Cycle, sometimes referred to as the Golden Age.  Problem is, the Mayan Long Count calendar ends after the fifth cycle (2012).  This date is where all the discussion and mystery is shrouded.

And, it was the Mayans that are predominant in the use of the Long Count Calendar, also referred to as the Mayan Long Count Calendar. 

Learn more about the Mayan numbering system.

First, credit has to be given to English anthropologist Sir Eric Thompson, who broke the code in understanding the long count system, and discovered when the last cycle of 5,125.25.25 years began.  Using the Spanish Inquisition as a guide, Thompson was able to decipher the code, in essence.  The inquisition was recorded by the modern day Gregorian calendar as well as the Mayan Long Count calendar.  Matching the dates and events on the two, and comparing that with one of the four known Mayan documents to have survived the Inquisition, gave Thompson the answers he needed.  It also gave him the starting point for the current Great Cycle of 5,125.25.25 years.  That date is August 13, 3114 BCE.  It is used to determine dates of time that have past since.

Unlike the modern Western decimal system used today which uses 10 as the base, the long count calendar is based on 20, or a "vigesimal" system.  There are 20 different numbers in the long count numbering system.  I'll try to explain...

The calendar is based on 20, with various names for certain levels (like the Western "hundred", "thousand", etc.).  Unlike the Western numbering system which goes on until infinity - trillions, drillions, etc. - the long count numbering system has five levels: the kin, uinal, tun, katun, and baktun.  Here they are more clearly:

The calendar lasts for 5,125.25.36 years, also known as the "Great Cycle".  Note that 13 Baktuns, or thirteen sets of 144,000 days equals 5,125.25 years.  So, we are in the final Baktun of 13 Baktuns, or one complete Great Cycle.

To calculate, simply multiply and add the numbers to derive a total number of days.  These are the days since this current (fifth) great cycle began, or August 11, 3114 BCE.  So, if you get a total of 655,435 days, divide it by 365 days (one Western year) to get the total number of years.  Then, subtract the total years from the -3114 to get the year in question.

There are basically five digits in the long count system, each separated by a period.  Here is the number that represents a long count of "0":

0.0.0.0.0  (zero is also represented with a hieroglyph of a sea shell, and is one of history's earliest uses of the zero concept).

Here is the number that represents a long count of "1":

0.0.0.0.1  (Also called 1 Kin.  In fact 1-19 are kins)

Here is "2":

0.0.0.0.2

Here is "20":

0.0.0.1.0 (where the second digit from the right - the "1" literally translates into 1x20.  Also called 1 "winal" or "uinal").  Incidentally, there are only 17 winals before it resets to 0.

Here is "360":

0.0.1.0.0 (also called 1 "tun", and calculates to 18 winals.  So, 18 winals x 20 - 360 days).

Use the image below to get a better insight on the calculation for the year 1112 BC.

Using this system, the Mayan started their calendar on the date September 6, 3114 BCE (Julian calendar), or August 11, 3114 BCE in the proleptic Gregorian calendar, counting the days passed until the end of the 5,125.25 year cycle.  This cycle ends precisely on December 20, 2012, or Baktun12.Katun19.Tun19.Winal17.Kin19.  The new cycle will begin with 13.0.0.0.0, or December 21, 2012.

Why 13.0.0.0.0, you ask? Well, you would think it would reset to 0.0.0.0.0 but since the Bak'tun is numbered from 1 to 13 (unlike our 0-12), the first day is 13.0.0.0.0, or the Bak'tun 13.

The Mayans believed the current cycle in which they (and modern today) live in as the fifth cycle, with the 4 preceding cycles of 5,125.25 years each ending in natural disaster.  The 4th cycle, about 5,000 years ago, ended in flooding (incidentally, Christian biblical history also mentions a "Great Flood" around this time).  As we are approaching the end of the fifth cycle (on December 21, 2012), many think a similar catastrophe will occur, ending the fifth cycle and providing mankind the choice of entering a better state of conscience or physical abilities.

Who were the Mayans?

The most noted culture of Mesoamerica were the Maya, who are significant in having the only known pre-Columbian written language.  They Mayans are also respected for their mathematical, art, architectural, and astronomical achievements.  They lived during 2000 BC to 900 AD.  During this time, the Mayans were one of the most advanced civilizations in the world.

The Classic Period of Mayan culture, lasted from 300 AD to 900 AD, with the people living in the Yucatan Peninsula and central America area.  This was a time of great advancement and understanding as the Mayan developed cities, built temples, monuments, developed art and writing techniques, and furthered their astronomical knowledge.  After their civilization disappeared (apparently from Spanish Inquisition), the culture survived somewhat.  Ruins of Mayan culture were discovered in the jungles and several important glyphs and hieroglyphs were found.  It is these writings that have provided modern researchers an insight into the Mayan calendars.

Who was Pacal Votan?

Lord Pacal Votan (603 - 683 AD) was a Mayan 52-year ruler of the Nah Chan Palenque in present day Chiapas, Mexico region during the during the Classic period of the pre-Columbian Maya civilization.

Votan influenced the Maya to create inscriptions in stone monuments and had a keen understanding of astronomical and astrological cycles.  More about Pacal Votan.

Mayan astrology dates back to the 6th century.  There are a 20 birth glyphs on the Mayan calendar.  Each one represents different characteristics or personality traits for the person born on a particular day.

Red Dragon
Red Dragons have naturally nurturing personalities, and respect and love nature. They generally love the outdoors.

White Wind
White Wind people are great communicators. They are considered the messengers of peace, love and harmony.

Blue Night
Imaginative and creative, these artistic people are dreamers full of fantastic ideas.

Yellow Seed
Yellow Seeds are teachers and nurturers.

Red Serpent
People born under the Red Serpent sign are said to be very sexual beings. The reason for this is because the serpent is the sign of the base chakra located at the bottom of the spine. This concentrates the Red Serpent's energy into the lower extremities.
White Worldbridger: Natural born diplomats, White Worldbridgers are always playing the role of peacemaker.

Blue Hand
Blue Hand people are natural healers with a caveat: They cannot heal others unless they first let go of their own personal pain and suffering.

Yellow Star
Yellow Stars love all the finer things in life. They love gourmet food, fine wine and lavishly decorated homes. They also appreciate all the natural beauty the world has to offer.

Red Moon
Red Moons are laid back and take life sort of "as it comes."

White Dog
White Dogs are playful when they want to be and fiercely protective and loyal to those they care about.

Blue Monkey
Blue Monkeys are often very busy people, frittering about from here to there. They are also playful, tending not to take anything in life too seriously.

Yellow Human
Yellow Humans are very intuitive and often very wise. The main problem is that they may not always share their wisdom with others.

Red Skywalker
Red Skywalkers are courageous and love new adventures and exploring.
White Wizard: White Wizards are very charismatic and often win people over with their charms.

Blue Eagle
Blue Eagles are very driven and will relentlessly pursue anything they desire in their lives.

Yellow Warrior
Yellow Warriors are seekers of knowledge and have an innate desire to learn as much as they can.

Red Earth
People born under this sign are constantly seeking self-evolvement.

White Mirror
These people are very honest and often speak their mind, saying exactly what they mean.

Blue Storm
Blue Storm people constantly bring about change and can sometimes leave a mess in their wake.

Yellow Sun
Yellow Suns have a bright and positive disposition. They should also be careful because their need to shine may cast shadows on others.