Calendar

Several calendars were used in the Mongolian society at the same time. One of them, a traditional year calendar was connected with the needs of the nomadic way of life. It reflected the annual change of seasons and months and their connection to the economic activities. This calendar market out two main seasons: spring-summer and autumn-winter. Such division of a year into two seasons was determined by the peculiarities of the climate and the economy defined by it.

Seasons were divided into months. There were 12 months, 30 days in each. Once in 4 years an extra, 13th month was added. Each month was divided into three decades according to moon phases: new moon, full moon and old moon. Months were named by seasons, colors or numerated. Old, folk names connected with natural phenomena, animals’ behavior, etc. were also used.

In the 13th century the Mongols adopted a new calendar (a 12-year animal cycle) from the Uigurs together with written language. In was introduced officially in 1210 and provided for the system of state proceedings. The Mongolian 12-year cycle began with the year of the mouse. Years were divided into hard and soft, male and female, fortunate and unfortunate ones. Months and hours in a day were marked with the same animals.

When Buddhism became state religion in the 16th century a 60-year calendar cycle was introduced. In it each 12-year cycle was linked to one of the five elements: wood, fire, earth, iron, water. Finally, in 1924 the European Gregorian calendar was established.

Gorit quiver.  Mongolia. Mongols. Early 20th cent.		Rite musical instrument.  Mongolia. Mongols. Late 19th cent.