Mongolian calendar explained

The term Mongolian calendar (or) refers to a number of different calendars, the oldest of which was a solar calendar. The beginning of the year was autumn. The year was divided into 4 seasons. The seasons begin at the equinoxes and the solstices of the sun. This calculation was changed in 1211, and the new year was celebrated in the spring. Spring began on March 22.

In 1282, Kublai Khan revised the Chinese calendar and began to include his homeland Mongolia in this calendar.

The traditional Mongol calendar is a lunisolar calendar based on ^[1] system developed in 1747 by monk Ishbaljir (; 1704–1788). The Mongol year is composed of either 12 or 13 lunar months, each beginning and ending with a new moon. A thirteenth month is added every three years, so that an average year is equal to the solar year.^[2]

The Mongol traditional new year celebration is Tsagaan Sar which is celebrated at the second new moon following the winter solstice. In 2022, the second new moon was on 1 February in Mongolia.

In modern Mongolia, the Gregorian calendar is used, with the traditional calendar only used for traditional celebrations and events based on the calendar.

The European system of chronology is called Аргын тоолол (chronology of method) and the Mongol system of chronology is called Билгийн тоолол (chronology of wisdom).

Argyn toolol

Months

The twelve months of the year are referred to by their number, such as first month, second month, and so on.

English name	Mongolian name
	Cyrillic	Traditional
January	Нэгдүгээр сар
	Negdügeer sar	Nigedüger sar-a
	Анхдугаар сар
	Ankhdugaar sar	Aŋqaduɣar sar-a
February	Хоёрдугаар сар
	Khoyordugaar sar	Qoyaduɣar sar-a
March	Гуравдугаар сар
	Guravdugaar sar	Ɣurbaduɣar sar-a
April	Дөрөвдүгээр сар
	Dörövdügeer sar	Dörbedüger sar-a
May	Тавдугаар сар
	Tavdugaar sar	Tabuduɣar sar-a
June	Зургаадугаар сар
	Zurgaadugaar sar	J̌irɣuduɣar sar-a
July	Долоодугаар сар
	Doloodugaar sar	Doloduɣar sar-a
August	Наймдугаар сар
	Naimdugaar sar	Naimaduɣar sar-a
September	Есдүгээр сар
	Yesdügeer sar	Yisüdüger sar-a
October	Аравдугаар сар
	Aravdugaar sar	Arbaduɣar sar-a
November	Арваннэгдүгээр сар
	Arvannegdügeer sar	Arban nigedüger sar-a
December	Арванхоёрдугаар сар
	Arvankhoyordugaar sar	Arban qoyaduɣar sar-a

Days of the week

In colloquial usage, the first 5 days of the week are referred to as first day, second day, etc. Saturday is referred to as Хагас сайн өдөр (Khagas sain ödör, "half-good day"), and Sunday is referred to as Бүтэн сайн өдөр (Büten sain ödör, "full good day"); a result of 5 full working days and Saturday as a half working day during the communist era.

The names of Tibetan origin are used in more formal settings, and almost exclusively in written documents, while the Sanskrit names are practically absent in modern usage.

English name	Colloquial		Tibetan origin		Sanskrit origin
	Cyrillic	Traditional	Cyrillic	Traditional	Cyrillic	Traditional	Meaning
Monday	Нэг дэх өдөр		Даваа гараг		Сумьяа		Chandra
	Neg dekh ödör	Nigedeki edür	Davaa garag	Dawa ɣarag	Sum'yaa	Sumiy-a
Tuesday	Хоёр дахь өдөр		Мягмар гараг		Ангараг		Mangala
	Khoyor dakh' ödör	Qoyadaki edür	Myagmar garag	Miɣmar ɣarag	Angarag	Aŋɣarag
Wednesday	Гурав дахь өдөр		Лхагва гараг		Буд		Budha
	Gurav dakh' ödör	Ɣurbadaki edür	Lkhagva garag	Lhaɣba ɣarag	Bud	Bud
Thursday	Дөрөв дэх өдөр		Пүрэв гараг		Бархасбадь		Brihaspati
	Döröv dekh ödör	Dörbedeki edür	Pürev garag	Pürbü ɣarag	Barkhasbad'	Barqasbadi
Friday	Тав дахь өдөр		Баасан гараг		Сугар		Shukra
	Tav dakh' ödör	Tabudaki edür	Baasan garag	Basaŋ ɣarag	Sugar	Šuɣar-a
Saturday	Хагас сайн өдөр		Бямба гараг		Санчир		Shani
	Khagas sain ödör	Qaɣas sayin edür
	Зургаа дахь өдөр
	Zurgaa dakh' ödör	J̌irɣuɣadaki edür	Byamba garag	Bimba ɣarag	Sanchir	Saničar
Sunday	Бүтэн сайн өдөр		Ням гараг		Адьяа		Surya
	Büten sain ödör	Bütün sayin edür
	Долоо дахь өдөр
	Doloo dakh' ödör	Doloɣadaki edür	Nyam garag	Nim-a ɣarag	Ad'yaa	Adiy-a

See also

• Public holidays in Mongolia

References

1. Zurkhai (from the verb zur - draw) is a system of knowledge embracing mathematics, astronomy and astrology
2. Damdinsuren . Ts. . 1981 . A Commentary on Kalacakra or Wheel of Time . The Tibet Journal . 6 . 1 . 43–49 . 0970-5368.