Episode 56: Four Things to Know About the Mexika Calendar!
Apr 23, 2024
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Learn about the Mexika calendar and its ties to naked-eye astronomy, decipher the complexities of Mesoamerican timekeeping, explore the traditions and celebrations of the Aztec calendar, all with a touch of humor and shameless promotion of a new calendar publication!
51:22
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Quick takeaways
The Mexika calendar system divides the year into two seasons based on observing the sun's movement, marking equinoxes and solstices.
Days in the Mexica calendar always start at sunrise to align with the sun's daily movement, simplifying timekeeping.
Deep dives
Using Naked Eye Horizon-Based Astronomy to Track the Sun's Movement
The Mexica calendar system is based on observing the sun's movement in relation to the horizon using the naked eye. By tracking the daily sunrise from a fixed point like a mountain peak, they divided the year into two seasons, Chopin and Tonalco. This method allowed them to mark the spring and fall equinoxes and the winter and summer solstices, guiding the division of the year into distinct halves.
Days Always Begin at Sunrise for the Mexica Calendar
In the Mexica calendar system, days always start at sunrise to avoid the need for a leap year. Depending on the year, some days begin at sunrise, noon, sunset, or midnight. By incorporating the movement of the sun as it rises each day, the Mexica ensure that days align logically with the natural phenomenon, simplifying the process of timekeeping.
Each Year Begins on One of Four Days in the Mexica Calendar
The Mesoamerican calendar consists of 18 'months,' each with 20 days, and a 19th month of five days. These days are paired with numerical coefficients to create unique names for each day. Additionally, there are four yearbearers that rotate annually, tied to specific numerals. The combination of day signs and yearbearers in a cyclical pattern allows for a coherent and continuous time measurement.
Including a Leap Year in the Mexica Calendar
The Mexica calendar acknowledges the need for a leap year, which occurs every four years naturally due to the sun's movement. By observing the slight shift of the sunrise position on the horizon annually, the Mexica integrated an extra day into the calendar every four years to maintain alignment with solar events. Historical sources and accounts confirm the use of a leap year, preventing calendar discrepancies over time.
With the passing of the Spring Equinox, we once again bring another year to a close. “In Xiwitl itlamiliz” The year has ended. This means it is once again time for the annual online arguments over whose calendar system follows the correct correlation.
We here at the Tales from Aztlantis world headquarters thought it would be helpful to lay out four things you should remember about the ancestral Mexika calendar that might help you discern which calendars are based on solid evidence, and which ones are…lacking to say the least. Now, we are not here to tell you which correlation to follow. Rather, we want to equip you with some basic concepts about the calendar system so that you might have an informed opinion to help guide your further research. But also, you should probably just go ahead and buy the calendar that Kurly just published along with Ruben Ochoa. Its available on talesfromaztlantis.com and Amazon.
And now, with that shameless plug out of the way, we present to you
Four Things to know about the Mexika calendar
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Kurly Tlapoyawa is an archaeologist, ethnohistorian, and filmmaker. His research covers Mesoamerica, the American Southwest, and the historical connections between the two regions. He is the author of numerous books and has presented lectures at the University of New Mexico, Yale University, San Diego State University, and numerous others. @kurlytlapoyawa
Ruben Arellano Tlakatekatl is a scholar, activist, and professor of history. His research explores Chicana/Chicano indigeneity, Mexican indigenist nationalism, and Coahuiltecan identity resurgence. Other areas of research include Aztlan (US Southwest), Anawak (Mesoamerica), and Native North America. He has presented and published widely on these topics and has taught courses at various institutions. He currently teaches history at Dallas College – Mountain View Campus.