Ancient Mayan Calendar
Discover the wisdom of the ancient Maya civilization
Event Indicators
The orange dots below each date indicate the number of events, ceremonies, or significant Mayan calendar days occurring on that date. Click any date to view detailed information about the events scheduled for that day.
Understanding the Mayan Calendar System
The Mayan calendar is one of humanity's most sophisticated timekeeping systems, developed by the ancient Maya civilization of Mesoamerica over 2,000 years ago. Unlike our modern Gregorian calendar, the Maya used multiple interlocking calendars to track time, ceremonies, and cosmic cycles with remarkable accuracy.
At the heart of Mayan timekeeping are three primary calendar systems: the sacred 260-day Tzolk'in, the 365-day solar Haab', and the Long Count calendar that tracks vast spans of time. Together, these calendars formed the Calendar Round, a 52-year cycle that was central to Mayan religious and agricultural life.
Learn more about the Mayan calendar systems and discover how the ancient Maya measured time with astronomical precision.
Convert Dates to Mayan Calendar
Want to know your birthday in the Mayan calendar? Our interactive date converter tool allows you to transform any Gregorian calendar date into its Mayan equivalents across all three calendar systems.
When you convert a date, you'll discover its Long Count notation, Tzolk'in day sign with sacred number, Haab' position, and Calendar Round designation. Each date also reveals the spiritual properties of its Tzolk'in day sign, including its associated element, direction, color, and deeper meaning in Mayan cosmology.
Try our date converter tool to explore the Mayan calendar and find your personal day sign.
Important Mayan Ceremonial Days
The Mayan calendar marks numerous sacred days throughout the year, each with specific ceremonial significance. From agricultural celebrations honoring the maize planting to the powerful solstices and equinoxes aligned with ancient pyramids, these dates were carefully observed by Mayan priests and communities.
Our calendar tracks over 180 traditional Mayan ceremonies spanning multiple years, including monthly observances, the sacred Wayeb' period, and seasonal transitions. Each ceremony carries deep cultural and spiritual meaning, connecting modern practitioners to ancient wisdom.
View all important Mayan days and discover the significance of ceremonial dates throughout the year.
The Tzolk'in: Sacred 260-Day Calendar
The Tzolk'in is the most sacred of the Mayan calendars, a 260-day cycle created by combining 13 numbers with 20 day names. Each of the 20 day signs represents a powerful spiritual energy, from Imix (the crocodile representing primordial waters) to Ahau (the sun lord symbolizing enlightenment).
In Mayan tradition, the day you were born determines your day sign, which influences your personality, strengths, and life path. Mayan day keepers still use the Tzolk'in for divination, choosing auspicious dates for important events, and understanding the energy of each day.
The 260-day cycle corresponds to the human gestation period and agricultural cycles, making it deeply connected to themes of birth, growth, and renewal in Mayan cosmology.
The Haab': Solar Year Calendar
The Haab' is the Mayan solar calendar, consisting of 365 days divided into 18 months of 20 days each, plus a special 5-day period called Wayeb'. This calendar closely mirrors the Earth's orbit around the sun and was used primarily for tracking agricultural seasons and civic events.
Each month in the Haab' has its own name and patron deity, from Pop (the beginning) through Cumku (the last regular month). The Wayeb' period was considered especially dangerous, a time when the boundaries between worlds grew thin and malevolent spirits could cross over.
The Haab' calendar demonstrates the Maya's advanced astronomical knowledge, as their year calculation was more accurate than the Julian calendar used in Europe during the same period.
Frequently Asked Questions
Have questions about how to read Mayan calendar dates, understand the Long Count notation, or calculate Calendar Round cycles? Our comprehensive FAQ section addresses common questions about Mayan timekeeping.
Whether you're curious about the famous 2012 prophecy, want to understand the GMT correlation constant, or need help interpreting Mayan glyphs, you'll find clear explanations and practical guidance.
Browse our FAQ for answers to all your Mayan calendar questions.
Modern Calendar Tools and Resources
While the Mayan calendar offers profound insights into ancient timekeeping, sometimes you need quick access to modern calendar information. For current date and time information, international time zones, and contemporary calendar utilities, check out Time.now Calendar.
Using both ancient and modern calendar systems together provides a comprehensive understanding of time from multiple cultural and practical perspectives. The Mayan calendar excels at tracking ceremonial cycles and astronomical events, while modern calendars handle daily scheduling and global coordination.
Whether you're planning a ceremony on an auspicious Mayan date or coordinating across time zones, having access to multiple calendar systems enriches your understanding of humanity's diverse approaches to measuring and organizing time.