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Mayan  Calendars

  Ancient Maya discovered two fundamental ideas in mathematics and used them in their numeric system: the positional value and the concept of zero as a numeric unit.

300 years after the Maya accomplished their impressive numeric system, did the Hindu ancient civilization was able to acquire such important numeric understanding.

DID YOU KNOW: 2010 will have a 12 full moon cycle; thus, the Mayan J-Men and Maya Wiseman Healers suggest that those visiting Chichen Itza during full moon dates, participate in a Mayan mystical KAY NIKTE'  ritual to renew  their  inner
connection with the Moon and Cosmos.

     The Mayan solar calendar of 365 days depicted here is called "Haab;” it is divided into 18 months of 20 days, each with a period of 5 days left over at the end of the year. This short 5 day month is called “Uayeb,” the resting of the year.

The most important calendar cycle for the Maya is Tzolkin, a ritual calendar of 260 days also known as the Sacred Almanac and J'Men Elder Mayan Priests (Shamans) continue using its count to celebrate their Mayan sacred rituals and ceremonies.  It is composed of 13 months, each with 20 days. Every day in the 260 day calendar has a unique corresponding position in time as well as in the “Haab” or the solar 360 + 5 day Maya calendar.  Each day’s position in the calendars only repeats itself every 52 solar years.

A cycle of 52 solar years, called the Sacred Calendar Round intermeshes with both Haab and Tzolkin calendars to form a calendar system of the Maya’s Cosmo-vision and time.  There is one more calendar, the Long Count, a linear calendar interpretation of time that the Maya perfected during the 1^st millennium A.D.

THE MAYA LONG COUNT:  The Maya calculated dates millions of years in the past and the future for ritual purposes with the use of their “Long Count,” or date calendar, which records the total number of days that have elapsed since their zero day 0.0.0.0.0  that can be correlated to August 2^nd, 3114 B.C. in our Gregorian calendar.  The present Haab calendar cycle will end on 13.0.0.0.0 or December 21^st, 2012 A.D. in our Gregorian calendar which will mark the winter equinox.  The slow wobbling of the earth's polar axis causes the precession of equinoxes, also known today as the Platonic Year, this was well known by ancient Maya timekeepers, or sky-watchers, and played an important part in ancient Mayan gods, sacred ceremonies, Cosmo-vision and Mayan mythology.

       December 21^st, 2012 Winter Solstice marks not only the conclusion of the Haab but also of the Maya Long Count calendar (recording time it takes for the Solar System movement return to the same positional space within the Milky Way).  In astronomic terms that date is when the Sun will conjunct the intersection of the Milky Way and the plane of the Solar System's ecliptic cycle; this rare astronomical event was calculated with extreme exactitude by the ancient Mayan Wiseman, and will be celebrated with a Mayan Holistic Zumpul-che Cave ritual (or sacred purification sweat-bath  similar to the Aztec's Temazcal ritual) at the Hacienda Chichen, Chichen Itza, Yucatan, Mexico.  If you want to participate, please email us to pre-register.

Mayan mythology foretells the creation story of the Hero Twins and the end of the present Haab (solar year) which interlock with the end of the Long Count calendar cycle; this rare cosmic event, the cross formed by the intersecting Milky Way and the plane of the ecliptic path of our solar system, was symbolized with a Ceiba Sacred Tree of Life by ancient Maya and marked the end of a cycle and the beginning of a new era.

 
The long count is based on the number 20 and days are referred to as kin. 

·         A day is called “kin”

·         Each set of 20 kin (days) is called uinal

·         Each set of 360 days is known as tun

·         Each set of 20 tuns (almost 20 years) is known as  katun

·         Each set of 20 katuns (almost 400 years) is known as baktun

Name and meaning of each "Kin" or Mayan 20 Days:

 

You may wish to learn how to find current dates in any of the Mayan Calendars
   at the  Maya Skies interactive page by Chabot Space Center, USA

Long count dates are inscribed on many ancient Maya monuments, ceremonial vessels and codex.  The count is expressed in a sequence like this one 9.13.0.5.2 which reads: 9 baktuns, 13 baktuns, 0 tuns, 5 uinals,  2 kins. NOTE: original Maya numerical reading format goes from right to left numbers as shown in the Mayan wheels of time:
 

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DID YOU KNOW:

Dresden Mayan Codex: In 1519, Hernan Cortez navigated the Yucatan coastline during the his conquest travels of the New world.  It is assumed that the Dresden Mayan Codex  was one of the many treasures and gifts he sent to the King of Spain; such codex, experts agree today, originally came from Chichen Itza during the post-classical Maya period, in 1250 A. C.  This beautifully crafted ancient Mayan manuscript has been an important key for the study and understanding of Mayan Gods, numbers, hieroglyphs and writing.  This piece of information is of utmost importance to today's J-Men and Mayan Senior Wiseman since the codex contains important description of the Mayan Cosmo-vision, holistic understanding of mankind, the planet, gods, and astronomical events.  The Dresden Codex also contains a Mayan ceremonial calendar for the different Mayan gods, tables of solar and lunar eclipses, calculations of the planet movements, especially Venus and Mars, and many Mayan cultural traditions that are all part of Yaxkin Spa Mayan Holistic Healing Care and purification ceremonies.

This article is a courtesy of the following non-profit organizations:

 Maya Founation In Laakeech A.C. and the
Elder Mayan Wiseman Association KUCH KAAB Y'EETEL J'MEN MAAYA'OB, A.C.

with the kind support of:
www.haciendachichen.com and www.chichenservices.com
 

HACIENDA CHICHEN RESORT AND YAXKIN SPA
 October and November 2009   Special Offer !! 
Book Two Nights and Stay a Third Night FREE. 
This is a non-refundable offer, limited to new prepaid online bookings. Book Now

  For travelers interested in learning about the Mayan Calendars and their intriguing time-count method, the Hacienda Chichen Resort has the pleasure to announce its Winter 2010 - 2011 Friday's Mayan Calendars Workshops conducted by Mayan Specialist Ms. Mucuy Kak Moó Marín, a dedicated Communications Development Engineer who teachers as a volunteer in many of our MFIL Volunteer Adult Education Programs various aspects of the Mayan Culture, Cosmo-vision, and the Mayan dynamic way of counting time and space with holistic wisdom.

Special Yucatan Vacation Offers
by Chichen Services Travel Site
December 2010: Book Chichen Services
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and pay now less than our regular rates!

Check packages and rates and reserve now.

Double Full Bed - double occupancy per person:
January 2010 arrivals: USD $520 offer per person
(USD $645. per person regular price)

     Single Queen Bed occupancy rate:
January 2009 arrival special offer: USD $ 798
(USD $895 per person regular price)

Check our Special Offers and Vacation Packages and truly enjoy visiting Chichen Itza, Yucatan, Mexico
Review our 2010: "Things to Do" Culinary Festivals Claendar

Yucatan Adventure's Recommends you these additional Eco-Travel Special Offers:

2010 AND 2011 MAYAN CALENDAR VACATION PACKAGES:
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These unique Mayan Eco-Cultural Wellness Getaway experiences were designed with the support and help of the Mayan Elder Healers and Wiseman, and include mystical personal encounters with the Mayan Cosmo-vision, traditions, Mayan purification rituals, Green Spa Wellness personal care, holistic living and organic healthy meals.

 2010 - 2011 HAAB SOLAR CALENDAR ECO-CULTURAL VACATION PACKAGES
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For details contact: Chichen Services or Hacienda Chichen Spa Resort

Find more Yucatan green hotel discounts, Eco-Spa Mayan Vacation Packages, Mayan Eco-Retreats in Yucatan, boutique Spa Hacienda offers and discounts.

 Chichen Itza Vacation Packages and Special Offers help travelers save money when planning their visit to Chichen Itza, Yucatan, Mexico.  Remember to view our
"Chichen Itza: Things to Do" page and 2010 Monthly Fiestas and Events Calendar

Yucatan's Wildlife:  Our World, Our Mission
protecting Yucatan's fauna (indigenous animals)

     
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We hope you find our Online Volunteer Magazine's articles interesting and full of learning fun.  Yucatan Adventure welcomes article, news, travel contributions, and ideas on how to support the Maya Foundation In Laakeech A.C. efforts to help the Mayan Communities nearby Chichen Itza, Yucatan, Mexico.

Helps us Help!   We hope you find our Online Volunteer Magazine's articles interesting and full of learning fun.  Yucatan Adventure welcomes article, news, travel contributions, and genius ideas on how to support the Maya Foundation In Laakeech A.C. efforts to help the Mayan Communities nearby Chichen Itza.

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Published 2007
    Updated April, October, December 2009

Updated June 2010
 

2009 March Equinox Ceremonies already held:

Mayan Spring Equinox Ceremony  celebrated on 21 March at 10 AM by the
J-Men, Mayan Wiseman Elder Healers (Mayan Shamans) at their Sacred Ceremonial Site. This Spring Equinox was the first in 2009, a year to revitalize your holistic inner communion with nature;
participation to this spring equinox celebration is free, arrive on time to Hacienda Chichen
 
After the Equinox ceremony, J-Men Tamay celebrated the Zumpul-che Ritual, a holistic Mayan purification sweat-bath ceremony highly recommended to revitalize your inner communion with Mother Nature, renew your vital energy, and reconnect mind, body, emotions, and soul.