The Mayan Calendar

The year 2012 is here. There has been a lot of talk about the world coming to an end on December 21, 2012? As a Christian, I don’t believe this. As far as I know from the Bible, it doesn’t state anywhere that the existence of man is going to end on this date.. If it was, God would of said so. And God did not mention it, so I believe we all are going to be just fine. Or is God using the Mayas to advise us of the end times?
Can I get some feedback on this topic. I think it is an interesting one to discuss. I would appreciate anything you have to say either way, yes or no. Thank all of you for helping the people have a better understanding of this issue.
The Mayan Calendar
Maya Tower

El Castillo. Chichen Itza, Yucatan, Mexico.



Aztec Calendar.





3 Cimi is the Tzolkin date.
4 Zotz is the Haab date.

What is the Long Count?



uinal (1 uinal = 20 kin = 20 days)
The uinal are numbered from 0 to 17.
The baktun are numbered from 1 to 13.



The alautun is probably the longest named period in any calendar.

When did the Long Count Start?




The date may have been the Mayas’ idea of the date of the creation of the world.

What is the Tzolkin?

The Tzolkin date is a combination of two “week” lengths.


  • a named week of 20 days, in which the names of the days were:
maya days

The diagram above shows the day symbols, in the same order as the table above.

As the named week is 20 days and the smallest Long Count digit is 20 days, there is synchrony between the two; if, for example, the last digit of today’s Long Count is 0, today must be Ahau; if it is 6, it must be Cimi. Since the numbered and the named week were both “weeks,” each of their name/number change daily; therefore, the day after 3 Cimi is not 4 Cimi, but 4 Manik, and the day after that, 5 Lamat. The next time Cimi rolls around, 20 days later, it will be 10 Cimi instead of 3 Cimi. The next 3 Cimi will not occur until 260 (or 13 x 20) days have passed. This 260-day cycle also had good-luck or bad-luck associations connected with each day, and for this reason, it became known as the “divinatory year.”

The “years” of the Tzolkin calendar are not counted.

When did the Tzolkin Start?

Long Count corresponds to 4 Ahau. The authorities agree on this.

What is the Haab?

The Haab was the civil calendar of the Mayas. It consisted of 18 “months” of 20 days each, followed by 5 extra days, known as Uayeb. This gives a year length of 365 days.

The names of the month were:

1. Pop 7. Yaxkin 13. Mac
2. Uo 8. Mol 14. Kankin
3. Zip 9. Chen 15. Muan
4. Zotz 10. Yax 16. Pax
5. Tzec 11. Zac 17. Kayab
6. Xul 12. Ceh 18. Cumku

In contrast to the Tzolkin dates, the Haab month names changed every 20 days instead of daily; so the day after 4 Zotz would be 5 Zotz, followed by 6 Zotz … up to 19 Zotz, which is followed by 0 Tzec.


The Uayeb days acquired a very derogatory reputation for bad luck; known as “days without names” or “days without souls,” and were observed as days of prayer and mourning. Fires were extinguished and the population refrained from eating hot food. Anyone born on those days was “doomed to a miserable life.”

The years of the Haab calendar are not counted.


When did the Haab Start?

Long Count corresponds to 8 Cumku. The authorities agree on this.

Did the Mayas Think a Year Was 365 Days?





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2 thoughts on “The Mayan Calendar

  1. Jesus is coming with His reward brother, yep you are spot on. myth has nothing to do with God. No one knows the day or hour, says Matt 24, so I don’t understand why people still putting dates on the end. We know Jesus’ kingdom is not from this world, as He said so Himself. What we need to do is make sure we a ready when Jesus comes. That’s what I think, based on what I know. God bless. 🙂

    • Thank you for your comment. You are right on too. I believe the non-believers put a date on the end because they just don’t know. That’s it in a nut shell. May God continue to bless you with knowledge, understanding and wisdom. Ricklee

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