Understanding the Mayan Calendar: Where Are We Now?

The Mayan calendar, an ancient system of timekeeping, has gained significant attention throughout history, particularly in the 21st century. This article explores the current year according to the Mayan calendar, the 2012 phenomenon, and the structure of the Mayan calendar's components.

The Current Year in the Mayan Calendar

According to the modern interpretation of the Mayan Long Count calendar, the current year is 13.0.0.0.0, marking the end of the 13th baktun cycle. The Mayan Long Count calendar began on August 11, 3114 BCE, and the last baktun (cycle) ended on December 21, 2012.

After this date, the calendar continues counting, and the next cycle starts from 0.0.0.0.0. This means that the year 2024 would be calculated based on the transition from the previous baktun. For specific dates, additional calculations are required. The Long Count calendar is not commonly used in daily life and is mainly of historical or cultural interest rather than practical relevance.

The 2012 Phenomenon

The 2012 phenomenon gained considerable media attention when the end of the last baktun on December 21, 2012, led to speculations about the end of the world. The media hype and hysteria surrounding these predictions was termed the 2012 phenomenon. However, just like numerous other doomsday prophecies throughout history, they all fizzled out without coming to fruition.

While the 2012 phenomenon is no longer a current topic of discussion, it remains a crucial part of the cultural and historical context surrounding the Mayan calendar.

The Structure of the Mayan Calendar

The Mayan calendar is a complex system consisting of three separate corresponding calendars: the Long Count calendar, the Tzolkin divine calendar, and the Haab civil calendar. Each calendar is cyclical and identifies the days but not the years. Together, these calendars are used to set a unique date.

The Long Count Calendar

The Long Count calendar is the primary calendar used to track years. It consists of the base number 13, representing the end of a baktun cycle. Each baktun lasts 144,000 days, approximately 394 years. The current baktun is 13, which means we are 5 years and 11 months into a 20-month long count cycle, or approximately 10 years into the Gregorian calendar.

The Tzolkin Calendar

The Tzolkin is a 260-day cycle that combines 20 days with 13 numbers to create a total of 260 unique days. This calendar is used to identify the days and is often associated with divine events or ceremonies.

The Haab Calendar

The Haab is a civil calendar of 365 days divided into 18 months of 20 days and one month of five days called Wayeb. This calendar is used to identify the days of the year and is similar to the modern-year calendar.

Putting It All Together

A typical Mayan date combines the elements of these three calendars. For example, a date might be written as: 13.0.0.0.0 4 Ahau 8 Kumku. Here, 13.0.0.0.0 is the Long Count date, 4 Ahau is the Tzolkin date, and 8 Kumku is the Haab date.

To learn more about each calendar and how to set the date, please visit the link provided.