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THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EARLY COLONIAL MAYA NEW YEAR'S CEREMONIES AND SOME ALMANACS IN THE MADRID CODEX

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2000

Cassandra R. Bill ,
Christine L. Hernández  and
Victoria R. Bricker
Cassandra R. Bill
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118, USA
Christine L. Hernández
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118, USA
Victoria R. Bricker
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118, USA
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Abstract

The Maya haab, the 365-day solar year, ended with a 5-day period called “Uayeb.” According to Bishop Diego de Landa, preparations for the commencement of a New Year began during the Uayeb period of the preceding year. This paper concerns the events and ceremonies encompassing the beginning of a Cauac year and discusses the parallels between Landa's descriptions of these events and certain figures and activities portrayed in several almanacs of the Madrid Codex. Based on the calendrical structure of these almanacs, we argue that they pertain specifically to Uayeb-related ceremonies for a single year within the 52-year cycle, beginning on a day 13 Cauac.

Type
Research Article
Information
Ancient Mesoamerica , Volume 11 , Issue 1 , January 2000 , pp. 149 - 168
Copyright
© 2000 Cambridge University Press

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