Ancient Bulgarian calendar Information & Ancient Bulgarian calendar Links at HealthHaven.com

The ancient Bulgarian calendar is based on observations of Jupiter (Yankul) and the Sun. Under the ancient Bulgarian calendar system, the year had 364 counted days and 1 uncounted day, totalizing 365 days. Every four years, an extra day was inserted and corresponded to the summer solstice. The year was divided in 4 quarters, 52 weeks and 13 months, of which the 13th consists of only 1 day (New Year's Day) and it corresponded to the winter solstice. Therefore, every year, the same date always falls on the same day of the week.^{[citation needed]}

The calendar was a circle composed by twelve constellations, named after real or mythological animals, and it was used to follow the movement of the sun but most of all of Jupiter (Yankul: the master of time).

In the ancient Bulgarian chronology, there are periods of 3, 10, 12, 17, 19, 21, 30, 47, 50, 53, 300, 600, 4332, etc. ancient Bulgarian years that are used both as denominators and intervals of time. The longest one is of 6328 ancient Bulgarian years. It is mentioned in the fragmentary inscription of Khan Omurtag and refers to the year 823 AD. The text consists of 14 lines, probably the concluding part of a contract between Danube Bulgaria and the Eastern Roman Empire. The inscription is carved with beautiful letters on a marble stone most probably from the capital town of Pliska. Here is what it reads:

"[…of the ruler] the name is [Khan Omurtag Juvigi]. The year of the appearance of the true god was 6328. They made a sacrifice and they swore in the written in the books [mutual contracts]…"

This historic source may be accepted as a proof of the early beginning of the chronology of the Bulgarian calendar. According to the counts of the famous Bulgarian historian Professor Vassil Zlatarski the beginning is the year 5505 BC. Therefore, we can calculate that the year, 2001 AD, is the year 7506 of the ancient Bulgarian chronology. Thus, the Bulgarians are the people with the most ancient system of measuring time – a fact, which indicates their early civilizing force.

[edit] Animal figures of the ancient Bulgarian calendar

1. Boar, Swine, Pig {In Bulgarian: Dok(s)} 2. Mouse {In Bulgarian: Karan, Sursu, Somor, Shashi} 3. Ox {In Bulgarian: Volyach, Buza, Bison, Shegor} 4. Snow Leopard {In Bulgarian: Bars, Parus, Boris} 5. Hare {In Bulgarian: Dvansh} 6. Dragon {In Bulgarian: Ver, Kala, Hala, Drakon, Lamya} 7. Snake {In Bulgarian: Attila, Dilom, Slav} 8. Horse {In Bulgarian: Alasha, Tag, Tek, Tih} 9. Monkey {In Bulgarian: Maimun(a), Pisin, Shebek} 10. Ram {In Bulgarian: Rassate, Saver, Sever} 11. Rooster {In Bulgarian: Tah, Toh} 12. Dog {In Bulgarian: Kuche, Eth, Iht, Mugel}

Cyclical years according to Petar Dobrev

N	Ancient Bulgarian	Modern Bulgarian	English
1	Сомор	Мишка	Mouse
2	Шегор	Вол	Bull(Ox)
3	-	Тигър	Tiger
4	Дван(ш)	Заек	Rabbit
5	Верени	Дракон	Dragon
6	Дилом	Змия	Snake
7	Теку?Именшегор?	Кон	Horse
8	Текучитем ?	Овен	Ram
9	-	Маймуна	Monkey
10	Тох	Петел	Rooster
11	Етх	Куче	Dog
12	Дохс	Свиня	Pig

Cyclical years according to G. Krustev

N	Ancient Bulgarian	Modern Bulgarian	English
1	Докс	Свиня	Pig
2	Каран	Мишка	Mouse
3	Шегор	Вол	Bull
4	Бар(ъ)с	Тигър	Tiger
5	Дван	Заек	Rabbit
6	Хала	Дракон(Хала)	Dragon
7	-	Змия	Snake
8	Таг	Кон	Horse
9	-	Овен	Ram
10	Писин	Маймуна	Monkey
11	Тох	Петел	Rooster
12	Етх	Куче	Dog

Another interpretation

N	Ancient Bulgarian	Modern Bulgarian	English
1	Докс	Свиня	Pig
2	Сомор/Каран	Мишка	Mouse
3	Шегор	Вол	Bull
4	Бар(ъ)с	Тигър	Tiger
5	Дван(ш)	Заек	Rabbit
6	Верени	Дракон	Dragon
7	Дилом	Змия	Snake
8	Таг/Теку	Кон	Horse
9	Суръх	Овен	Ram
10	Писин	Маймуна	Monkey
11	Тох	Петел	Rooster
12	Етх	Куче	Dog

[edit] The Chatalar Inscription

According to the Greek indiction system the only year in the reign of Khan Omurtag(814–831), which meets the date indiction 15 is 822 AD. The Bulgarian date shegor elem represents the year of the Ox(Bull) according to both Vasil Zlatarski and Petar Dobrev, and elem represents the 1st month of the Bulgarian year.

There is no doubt about the similarities between the Bulgarian and Chinese calendars (the 12 year cicle, the animals, representing the years). However, it must be said that the Chinese calendar is lunisolar, and the Bulgarian is solar, which makes it more accurate. There is also a difference in the numbering of the years - the first year of the Chinese cycle is the year of the rat, while in Bulgarian the first is the pig. Therefore the year of the ox in the Chinese calendar is 821 AD, while the year of the ox in the Bulgarian one is 822 AD, i.e. we can see that the two systems in which the inscription is dated - the byzantian and the Bulgarian are relevant.

There is also a dating according to the ancient Bulgarian calendar in the Nominalia of the Bulgarian khans, where we can calculate the years of reigh of some of the Bulgarian Khans.

[edit] External links