The traditional Mongol calendar (, ''tsaglabar'' or , ''tsag toony bichig'') is a

lunisolar calendar A lunisolar calendar is a calendar in many cultures, combining lunar calendars and solar calendars. The date of Lunisolar calendars therefore indicates both the Moon phase and the time of the solar year, that is the position of the Sun in the ...

based on Zurkhai (from the verb ''zur'' - ''draw'') is a system of knowledge embracing mathematics, astronomy and astrology system developed in 1747 by monk Ishbaljir (, ''Sümbe khambo Ishbaljir''; 1704–1788). The Mongol year is composed of either 12 or 13

lunar month In lunar calendars, a lunar month is the time between two successive syzygies of the same type: new moons or full moons. The precise definition varies, especially for the beginning of the month. Variations In Shona, Middle Eastern, and Eur ...

s, each beginning and ending with a new moon. A thirteenth month is added every two or three years, so that an average year is equal to the

solar year A tropical year or solar year (or tropical period) is the time that the Sun takes to return to the same position in the sky of a celestial body of the Solar System such as the Earth, completing a full cycle of seasons; for example, the time f ...

. The Mongol traditional new year celebration is Tsagaan Sar which is celebrated at the second new moon following the

winter solstice The winter solstice, also called the hibernal solstice, occurs when either of Earth's poles reaches its maximum tilt away from the Sun. This happens twice yearly, once in each hemisphere (Northern and Southern). For that hemisphere, the winter ...

. In 2022, the second new moon was on 1 February in Mongolia. In modern

Mongolia Mongolia; Mongolian script: , , ; lit. "Mongol Nation" or "State of Mongolia" () is a landlocked country in East Asia, bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south. It covers an area of , with a population of just 3.3 million, ...

, 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.

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 A Communist Era is a sustained period of national government by a single party following the philosophy of Marxism–Leninism. Many countries have experienced such a period of Communist rule. Current communist states China The Chinese Communist ...

. 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.

Footnotes

Calendars Calendar {{Mongolia-stub

Argyn Toolol

Months

Days of the week

See also

Footnotes