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Comparing calendars
Maya vs Aztec
The Maya and Aztec calendars share one Mesoamerican design — a 365-day year turning against a 260-day sacred round — but the Maya also kept a Long Count of days from a mythic creation, where the Aztec simply cycled every fifty-two years.
| Attribute | Maya | Aztec |
|---|---|---|
| Type | A continuous day-count with interlocking rounds | A 365-day count with a 260-day sacred round |
| Origin | The Maya civilization of Mesoamerica | The Aztec (Mexica) civilization of Mesoamerica |
| Year | A 365-day Haabʼ runs alongside the continuous count of days | The 365-day Xiuhpōhualli |
| Months | The Haabʼ has 18 of 20 days, plus 5 (the Wayebʼ) | 18 veintenas of 20 days, plus 5 (the nemontemi) |
| Week | No week; a 260-day sacred round (the Tzolkʼin) | No week; a 260-day sacred round (the Tōnalpōhualli) |
| Leap rule | None — the Haabʼ drifts against the solar year | None |
| Counts years from | A mythic creation in 3114 BCE (GMT correlation) | No running count; years turn in a 52-year round |
| Where it’s used | Historical; still kept by some Maya communities | Historical (Caso correlation) |
See this moment on each: Maya Long Count · Aztec calendar. Or convert a specific date into both.