Types of Calendars In the World

Types of Calendars: Calendars play a central role in human life. From planning daily schedules to taking time off for family vacations, we need a calendar for almost everything. They help you organize time, record history, and preserve cultural and religious traditions. 

While the modern world largely follows the Gregorian calendar, it is essential to recognize that this system is just one of many calendars that humans have developed over thousands of years. 

People in different societies have watched how the Sun, Moon, and stars move through the sky and created their own unique types of calendars that reflect their culture, religious beliefs, and lifestyle. 

While all calendars serve as a way to keep track of time, in fact, many calendars show how mankind has related to or observed nature and also represent his view of himself and his environment through science and faith. 

In this article, we will explore the major types of calendars used across the world.

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Types of Calendars

Here are some of the best-known calendars that are used across the world. 

1. The First Known Calendar in the World

The earliest known form of a calendar was created in 8,000 B.C. Archaeological discoveries made in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, have confirmed that it was based on lunar cycles and would have been developed while humans were still living as hunter-gatherers and relying on the patterns of nature for their survival. 

2. The Julian Calendar

Julius Caesar established the Julian calendar in 46 B.C. and made strides in the history and development of calendars by developing a calendar using the solar system instead of the previously utilized lunar system. The Julian calendar has 12 months and 365 days, and every four years adds a leap day.

3. The Hindu Calendar

The Hindu calendar is not a single system but a group of related calendars, including Vikram Samvat, Shaka Samvat, and Kali Yuga. It is primarily based on the lunar cycle but also considers the solar year to maintain accuracy.

This calendar is mostly used in India and nearby regions to determine religious festivals, rituals, and auspicious days. 

4. The Hijri (Islamic) Calendar

The Hijri calendar, also referred to as the Islamic calendar, is based solely on lunar cycles and contains 12 months, each beginning with the sighting of the new moon. The Hijri year contains either 354 or 355 days. The beginning of the Hijri calendar occurred in 622 A.D. when Prophet Muhammad migrated from Mecca to Medina. 

5. The Buddhist Calendar

The Buddhist calendar utilizes a lunisolar system and is predominantly found in Southeast Asian countries: Thailand, Cambodia, and Myanmar. The Buddhist calendar is derived from an ancient system based on the Hindu calendar, but it is based on the sidereal year.

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