The Aymara Calendar is a calendar used by the Aymara Indigenous Peoples of South America. It is best known for the Willka Kuti (Return of the Sun), or its New Year (Machaq Mara), celebrated each Southern Winter Solstice, or 21st of June in the Julian and Gregorian Calendars.
Apart from its epoch date being exactly 5000 years before the Discovery of the Americas in 12th of October 1492 Julian (21st of October 1492 Proleptic Gregorian) many of its details are mainly unknown or disputed.
If the epoch date of the Aymara Calendar is 5000 years before the June Solstice prior to October 1492 Julian/Gregorian, then the period between the June Solstices of 2025 and 2026 Julian/Gregorian are 5533 AYM.
Purported structure[]
It is said that it divides the year into three seasons linked to agriculture: cold (autumn and winter), dry (sowing) and rainy (crop growth).
There are actually two Aymara calendars: the "Solar" one and the "Lunar" one. The "Lunar" one is a 13*28 calendar, meaning it has 13 months with 28 days each, along with the Winter Solstice serving as the "monthless" day. The "Solar" one, on the other hand, is said to have twelve months, eight of 30 days and four of 31 days. However, it is unclear which ones have 30 days and which ones have 31, and in what order.
It is said to have various festivities, such as Pawkar Raymi (blooming), Inti Raymi (harvest), Quya Raymi (fertility) and Qhapaq Raymi (germination). These key days seem to be in sync with the solstices and equinoxes.
Months[]
The names of the months are apparently very disputed, as websites differ greatly on what they're called.
Scribd.com - fabrizzio (12 month, correspondence to Gregorian/Julian Months)[]
Kolliw Phajjsi / Jallu Warta (17 January . 15 February)
Anata / Marqha Phajjsi (16 February - 17 March)
Q'asiwi / T'arwa Yawi (18 March - 16 April)
Llamayu (17 April - 16 May)
Kacha Hajjsi / Wanca (17 May - Winter Solstice)
books.openedition.org (Incomplete)[]
Marca Colliui Phaksi (February)
Hupa Llamayu (April)
Amca Llamayu (May)
Casiui Phaksi (June)
Kacha Chino (July)
Hupathapiu Phaksi (August)
Casui Lapaca (September)
Sataui Lapaca (October)
Lapaca Phaksi (November)
markapacha.com (12-month, correspondence to Gregorian/Julian Months)[]
Llamayu Paxi (May)
Mara t'aqa (June)
Willka kuti (July)
Llump'aqa junt'u paxi (August)
Sata Paxi (September)
Taypi Sata Paxi (October)
Lapaka Paxi (November)
Jallu Qallta Paxi (December)
Chinuqa Paxi (January)
Anata / T'ika Paxi (February)
Achuqa Paxi (March)
A detailed 13*28 Calendar. Most likely unofficial, but a good attempt at standardization. The calendar from the image is from between the June Solstices of 2009 and 2010 Julian/Gregorian (5517 AYM.)
Qasawi Paxi (April)
ajayularevista.worldpress.com (13-month, starting with the Southern Winter Solstice, around 21st of June)[]
This is a 13 * 28 calendar. Both Quechua and Aymara names are given. However, this is not fully confirmed to be official.
Chiriyan / Samaña
Chakra Yapuy / Loqayaña
Sara Tarpuy / Qupaña
Uma Raymi / Waqichaña
Aya Marka / Sataña
Chakra Wiñay / Alirayaña
Qhapaq Raymi / Irnaqaña
Kamay / Qawaña
Pawkar Waray / Uruchayaña
Pacha Poqoy / Poqoyaña
Ariwaki / Alliraña
Armuray / Qayruña
Haykay Kuski / Pirwaña
It also divides the year into four seasons instead of 3: Cold (Jhuyphi Pacha / Qasay, 3 May - 2 Aug.); Windy (Wayra Pacha / Wayray, 2 Aug. - 1 Nov.); Hot (Llampu Pacha / Chawa, 1 Nov - 2 Feb.); and Rainy (Jallu Pacha / Puquy, 2 Feb - 3 May).
sisawu.org (13-month, unclear starting point, unlikely to be even more official than the latter)[]
Kulla
Panchi
Pawkar
Ayriwa
Aymuray
Inti
Sitwa
Karway
Kuski
Wawyri
Sasi
Aya
Qhapaq (spelled as "Kapak")
scribd.com - Gregorio Garrido Arestegui (13-month, starting with the monthless Southern Winter Solstice day, 21st of June)[]
A fragment of the 13-month calendar uploaded by Gregorio Garrido Arestegui. It is from the June Solstices of 1989 to 1990 J/G, or 5497 AYM. (Millenia are referred in this document as "suns", as in "(The Era of the) Fifth Sun")
T'aqaya
Q'asara / Chawawarka
Thalara / Yapari
Awti / Quya Raymi
Satawi / Umaraymi; Amayapaxsi / Amaykilla
Lapaka / Ayamarka
Chukajallu / Qhapaq Inti Raymi / Willka Kuti
Chinu / Qamaykilla / Jallupacha
Qhulliwi / Pawkarwaray / Hatun Puquy
Achuqa / Pachapuquy / Pachapuquna
Qalluchi / Ariwari; Qamay / Inkapaqraymi
Llamayu / Aymuray; Hatun Kuski / Aymuray
Kasuwu Jawkay Kuski / Marat'aqaya
Additionally, there are names for the days of the Week:
Maytita (Monday)
Paytita (Tuesday)
Iritita (Wednesday)
Yunkita (Thursday)
Chipanata (Friday)
Takirita (Saturday)
Samaya (Sunday)
Criticisms[]
Despite the idea of a 13*28 calendar starting on a Solstice being a popular idea and deemed a very optimal and sensical alternative to the Julian and Gregorian Calendars, it is also faced with many criticisms:
Unstable naming convention, the names of the months are not widely agreed upon and vary between sources, and there currently seems to be no regulating institution to standardize them.
It currently depends on the Gregorian Calendar than in astronomy, as it doesn't seem to care if the June Solstice doesn't fall in the 21st.
Apart from a lack of an established month naming convention, there is currently no standardized notation system either.
Adding 5000 to the years passed since Columbus Day 1492 J/G and establishing it as its epoch date is arbitrary, similar on how the Holocene Calendar is just the Gregorian Calendar but with 10000 added to the year number, and thus depends on the Gregorian Calendar to define the years.
It is unknown or unclear how does the Aymara Calendar deal with Leap Years. This was the answer given by Google:
"The Aymara calendar does not have a leap year system like the Gregorian calendar; instead, its 365-day solar year, which is aligned with astronomical cycles, gradually drifts relative to the Gregorian calendar. Rather than adding a leap day, this system relies on traditional knowledge and rituals to maintain alignment with solar events."
