Armenian calendar facts for kids

The Armenian calendar was an important way to keep track of time in Armenia during the Middle Ages. It's a special calendar that has exactly 365 days in a year. These days are split into twelve months, each with thirty days. There are also five extra days at the end of the year. These extra days are called "aveleacʿ" in the Armenian language. The first year of this calendar started in the year 552 AD according to our modern Gregorian calendar.

What is the Armenian Calendar?

The Armenian calendar was mostly used a long time ago, during the medieval period. Some people in Armenia still use it today. This calendar is different from the one we use now because it does not have any leap days. A leap day is an extra day added every four years in the Gregorian calendar. Because the Armenian calendar doesn't have leap days, it slowly shifts backwards. This shift happens when compared to the Gregorian calendar. It takes about 1,461 years for it to shift a full year.

How Does the Armenian Calendar Work?

The Armenian calendar has a fixed number of days each year. Every year has 365 days. These days are divided into twelve months. Each of these months has exactly thirty days. After the twelve months are over, there are five special extra days. These five days are not part of any month. They are called "aveleacʿ".

The Months of the Armenian Calendar

The twelve months in the Armenian calendar have different names. These names are not the same as the months we usually use in English. Here is a list of the months and what some of their names mean:

See also

In Spanish: Calendario pagano armenio para niños