The Hmong calendar (Pahawh: 𖬌𖬣𖬵 𖬊𖬞𖬰 𖬀𖬰𖬧𖬵 𖬂𖬯 𖬘𖬲𖬥𖬰; RPA: Hmoob daim teej cim zwj) is a lunar calendar used by the Hmong people since, according to Hmong legends and folklore, ancient times. Its origins are unknown. However, it is believed to be created during ancient Hmong civilization in today’s country Mongolia. According to Hmong legends and folklore, it is said that ancient Hmong ancestral kings had created them to determine the best time when rituals, ceremonial events or activities can be performed in order to receive blessings or fortunes from the almighty god.
The Hmong lunar calendar has a system of a set revolving cycles of days (Pahawh: 𖬆𖬰𖬩; RPA: Hnub), weeks (Pahawh: 𖬑𖬟𖬵; RPA: plua), months (Pahawh: 𖬃𖬥; RPA: Hli) and years (Pahawh: 𖬍𖬧𖬰; RPA: xyoo), along with moon cycles and Hmong zodiac[1]
Gregorian Months | Hmong Months (formal in Pahawh) | Hmong (formal using RPA) | Informal (using RPA) |
---|---|---|---|
January | 𖬀𖬰𖬤 𖬀𖬶𖬯 | Yeej ceeb | [Lub] Ib hli |
February | 𖬆𖬰 𖬀𖬶𖬮 | Kub xeeb | [Lub] Ob hli |
March | 𖬖𖬰𖬤 𖬔𖬲 | Yaj kiav | [Lub] Peb hli |
April | 𖬀 𖬒𖬯 | Keem com | [Lub] Plaub hli |
May | 𖬆𖬰 𖬆𖬶𖬬 | Kub nuj | [Lub] Tsib hli |
June | 𖬒𖬶𖬧𖬵 𖬔𖬶𖬞 | Tov liaj | [Lub] Rau hli |
July | 𖬐𖬰𖬟 𖬀𖬶𖬮 | Huaj xeeb | [Lub] Xya hli |
August | 𖬀𖬶𖬯 𖬑𖬯 | Ceeb cua | [Lub] Yim hli |
September | 𖬔𖬝𖬰 𖬆𖬰 𖬀𖬰𖬞 | Tsiab kub leej | [Lub] Cuaj hli |
October | 𖬀𖬪𖬵 𖬋𖬰𖬪𖬰 | Peem tshais | [Lub] Kaum hli |
November | 𖬌𖬲𖬞 𖬀𖬲 𖬀𖬦𖬰 | Looj keev txheem | [Lub] Kaum ib hli |
December | 𖬑𖬶𖬨𖬵 𖬎𖬯 | Npuag cawb | [Lub] Kaum ob hli |
Gregorian Days | Hmong Days | Hmong RPA | Informal (in RPA) |
---|---|---|---|
Sunday | 𖬘𖬲𖬥𖬰 𖬆𖬰𖬩 | Zwj hnub | Hnub ib |
Monday | 𖬘𖬲𖬥𖬰 𖬃𖬥 | Zwj hli | Hnub ob |
Tuesday | 𖬘𖬲𖬥𖬰 𖬑𖬶𖬦𖬵 | Zwj quag | Hnub peb |
Wednesday | 𖬘𖬲𖬥𖬰 𖬀𖬶𖬜𖬵 | Zwj feeb | Hnub plaub |
Thursday | 𖬘𖬲𖬥𖬰 𖬀𖬶𖬧𖬵 | Zwj teeb | Hnub tsib |
Friday | 𖬘𖬲𖬥𖬰 𖬐𖬶 | Zwj kuab | Hnub rau |
Saturday | 𖬘𖬲𖬥𖬰 𖬗𖬶𖬯 | Zwj cag | Hnub xya |
English | Pahawh Hmong | Hmong RPA |
---|---|---|
Spring | 𖬊𖬶𖬯 𖬌𖬲𖬫𖬰 𖬌𖬧𖬰 𖬌𖬲𖬫𖬰 𖬍𖬲𖬩𖬵 𖬗𖬥 | Caij nplooj xyoob nplooj ntoos hlav |
Summer | 𖬊𖬶𖬯 𖬆𖬶𖬩𖬵 𖬒𖬶𖬤𖬵 | Caij ntuj sov |
Autumn/Fall | 𖬊𖬶𖬯 𖬌𖬲𖬫𖬰 𖬌𖬧𖬰 𖬌𖬲𖬫𖬰 𖬍𖬲𖬩𖬵 𖬁𖬲𖬥𖬰 | Caij nplooj xyoob nplooj ntoos zeeg |
Winter | 𖬊𖬶𖬯 𖬆𖬶𖬩𖬵 𖬓𖬰𖬬 | Caij ntuj no |
International moon cycles | Hmong moon cycles | Day(s) counted |
---|---|---|
Waxing moon | Pahawh: 𖬃𖬥 𖬖𖬲𖬮; RPA: Hli xab | Day 1-14 |
Full moon | Pahawh: 𖬃𖬥 𖬗𖬰𖬝 / 𖬛𖬰𖬝; RPA: Hli ntsa / ntsaa | Day 15 |
Waning moon | Pahawh: 𖬃𖬥 𖬉𖬶𖬬𖬰; RPA: Hli nqeg | Day 16-29 |
New moon | Pahawh: 𖬃𖬥 𖬑𖬶𖬧𖬵 / 𖬛𖬶𖬧𖬵; RPA: Hli tuag / taag | Day 30 |
First appearing of waxing moon | repeats? | 1st day |
First quarter (half moon) | repeats? | 8th day |
Full moon | repeats? | 15th day |
Third quarter (half moon) | repeats? | 22nd day |
New moon | repeats? | 30th day |
According to Hmong folklore, it is said that long time ago almighty god (Pahawh: 𖬏𖬲𖬤 𖬄𖬤𖬵; RPA: Yawg Saum) wanted to choose some animals to represent each Lunar Year, and if he only chooses domestic animals it wouldn't be fair toward wild animals - this incident was involved for both heaven and underworld. Therefore he chose half of domestic animals and the other half wild animals in a total of 12 zodiac animals (Pahawh: 𖭑𖭒 𖬇𖬲𖬧𖬵 𖬔𖬶𖬝𖬰 𖬗 𖬍𖬰𖬧𖬰; RPA: 12 tug tsiaj kav xyoo) to represent each Lunar New Year.[2][3] The 12 animals are as follows:
White Hmong / Hmoob Dawb
Green Hmong / Moob Leeg