The Most Popular Calendar, Ranked

Choose the calendar you think is the most popular!

Author: Gregor Krambs
Updated on Apr 21, 2024 06:54
In a world flooded with countless tools aiming to organize our time, choosing the right calendar can be a perplexing task. Each calendar claims to offer unique features to streamline scheduling and enhance productivity. Yet, how does one decide which is truly the best fit for their lifestyle? This is where the importance of a community-driven ranking comes into play. By casting your vote on your preferred calendar, you contribute to a collective effort that helps clarify which options stand out in the real world. This dynamic tally not only reflects current user preferences but also guides newcomers in making informed choices. Your participation ensures that the most efficient and user-friendly calendars gain visibility, helping others to benefit from proven tools.

What Is the Most Popular Calendar?

  1. 1
    75
    votes
    Gregorian calendar
    Karl Nimtsch · CC BY-SA 3.0

    Gregorian calendar

    Pope Gregory XIII
    The Gregorian calendar is the most widely used calendar in the world today. It was introduced by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582 and is used by most countries for civil purposes. The calendar is based on the solar year and has a leap year every four years.
    The Gregorian calendar is the most widely used calendar system in the world today. It is a solar calendar that was introduced by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582 as a refinement of the Julian calendar.
    • Leap Years: Every year divisible by 4 is a leap year, except for years divisible by 100 but not by 400.
    • Months: 12 months in a year: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, and December.
    • Days: Common years have 365 days, while leap years have 366 days.
    • Weeks: 7 days in a week: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
    • Year Cycle: A 400-year cycle repeats with the same pattern of leap years and has 146,097 days.
  2. 2
    41
    votes
    Chinese calendar
    Shaihoga Hsum · CC BY-SA 4.0
    The Chinese calendar is based on the lunar cycle and is used in China and other East Asian countries. It is one of the oldest calendars in the world and has been used for over 4,000 years.
    The Chinese calendar, also known as the Lunar calendar, is a traditional calendar used in many East Asian countries, including China. It is a lunisolar calendar that is based on the cycles of the moon and the sun.
    • Lunisolar system: The Chinese calendar combines lunar and solar elements to determine dates.
    • Cycle of 60 years: The Chinese calendar operates on a 60-year cycle known as the Sexagenary cycle.
    • Yearly animal zodiac: Each year in the Chinese calendar is associated with one of the twelve animals in the zodiac.
    • Lunar months: The Chinese calendar has twelve or thirteen lunar months in a year.
    • 24 Solar Terms: The Chinese calendar divides the year into 24 solar terms based on seasonal changes.
  3. 3
    22
    votes
    Islamic calendar
    "Imprimerie Dar el Founoun" · CC BY-SA 3.0
    The Islamic calendar is used by Muslims worldwide for religious purposes. It is based on the lunar cycle and has 12 months of 29 or 30 days each. The calendar is used to determine the dates of Islamic holidays and events.
    The Islamic calendar, also known as the Hijri calendar, is a lunar-based calendar widely used by Muslims for determining religious events, such as the timing of fasting during Ramadan, the celebration of Eid al-Fitr, and the pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj).
    • Lunar-based: The Islamic calendar follows the lunar cycle, with each month starting with the sighting of the new moon.
    • 354 or 355 days: The Islamic year consists of either 354 or 355 days, which is shorter than the solar-based Gregorian calendar.
    • 12 lunar months: The Islamic calendar consists of 12 lunar months, each starting with the sighting of the new moon.
    • Islamic era: The Islamic calendar starts from the year of the migration (Hijra) of the Prophet Muhammad from Mecca to Medina in 622 CE.
    • Leap years: To align the lunar calendar with the solar year, leap years are occasionally introduced, adding an extra day to the 12th month.
  4. 4
    16
    votes
    Hebrew calendar
    photo © 2004 by Tomasz Sienicki [user: tsca, mail: tomasz.sienicki at gmail.com] · CC BY 2.5
    The Hebrew calendar is used by Jews worldwide for religious purposes. It is based on the lunar cycle and has 12 or 13 months of 29 or 30 days each. The calendar is used to determine the dates of Jewish holidays and events.
  5. 5
    21
    votes
    The Hindu calendar is used in India and other South Asian countries. It is based on the lunar cycle and has 12 months of varying lengths. The calendar is used to determine the dates of Hindu holidays and events.
    The Hindu calendar, also known as the Panchang or the Hindu panchangam, is a traditional lunisolar calendar system widely used in India. It is culturally significant and widely followed by Hindus for religious and auspicious events.
    • Lunisolar Calendar: The Hindu calendar is a lunisolar calendar, which means it uses both lunar and solar movements to calculate the dates and timings of events.
    • Tradition and Customization: It incorporates various Hindu traditions, customs, and regional variations, which leads to multiple regional versions.
    • Cycle of Months: It consists of a cycle of 12 lunar months, each corresponding to a zodiac sign.
    • Lunar Days and Tithis: Each lunar month is divided into several lunar days called 'tithis' which are significant for various religious rituals.
    • Solar Year Adaptation: The Hindu calendar adjusts the lunar months with intercalary months based on the solar year to maintain synchronization with the seasons.
  6. 6
    17
    votes
    The Persian calendar is used in Iran and other Persian-speaking countries. It is based on the solar year and has 12 months of varying lengths. The calendar is used to determine the dates of Persian holidays and events.
    The Persian calendar, also known as the Solar Hijri calendar, is a type of solar calendar used in Iran and several other countries. It has been in continuous use for over 2,500 years and is the official calendar of Iran.
    • Calendar Type: Solar calendar
    • Start Date: Ancient times, possibly around 6th century BCE
    • Epoch: Shahenshahi era, starting with the coronation of the last Persian Shahanshah, Yazdegerd III, in 632 CE
    • Months: 12 months
    • Days in a Week: 7 days
  7. 7
    11
    votes

    Julian calendar

    Julius Caesar
    The Julian calendar was used in Europe for civil purposes until the introduction of the Gregorian calendar in the 16th century. It is based on the solar year and has a leap year every four years.
    The Julian calendar is a calendar system that was created by Julius Caesar in 45 BCE. It was widely used in Europe and the Western world for over 1600 years.
    • Introduction: 45 BCE
    • Length of year: 365.25 days
    • Leap years: One leap day every four years
    • Start of the year: January 1st
    • Month lengths: Mostly 31 days, with February having 28 days (29 in leap years)
  8. 8
    9
    votes
    Mayan calendar
    MBisanz · CC BY-SA 3.0
    The Mayan calendar was used by the ancient Mayan civilization in Central America. It is based on the solar year and has 18 months of 20 days each plus a five-day "unlucky" period. The calendar is known for its accuracy in predicting astronomical events.
    The ancient Mayan calendar is a complex system of timekeeping that was used by the ancient Maya civilization in Mesoamerica. It is recognized for its remarkable accuracy and intricate design.
    • Long Count System: The Mayan calendar is based on a numerical system known as the Long Count, which represents dates as a series of units. It includes various cycles such as baktun (approximately 394 years), katun (approximately 20 years), tun (approximately 360 days), uinal (approximately 20 days), and kin (a single day).
    • Haab: The Mayan calendar has a solar component called the Haab, which is a 365-day agricultural calendar consisting of 18 months with 20 days, and a 5-day nameless month.
    • Tzolk'in: The Mayan calendar also incorporates a sacred 260-day calendar known as the Tzolk'in. It consists of 13 numbered days combined with 20 day names, resulting in a unique combination for each day over the course of the cycle.
    • Calendar Round: The Calendar Round refers to the synchronization of the Tzolk'in and Haab calendars. These two systems would realign once every 52 years, creating a cyclical pattern.
    • Importance in Religious and Agricultural Practices: The Mayan calendar played a significant role in the religious and agricultural practices of the Mayan civilization. It was used for planning ceremonies, determining auspicious dates, and coordinating agricultural activities.
  9. 9
    9
    votes
    The Ethiopian calendar is used in Ethiopia and Eritrea. It is based on the Coptic calendar and has 13 months of varying lengths. The calendar is used to determine the dates of Ethiopian holidays and events.
  10. 10
    4
    votes
    French Republican calendar
    Rama · CC BY-SA 2.0 fr
    The French Republican calendar was used during the French Revolution from 1793 to 1805. It was based on the decimal system and had 12 months of 30 days each plus five or six "complementary" days at the end of the year. The calendar was abolished by Napoleon Bonaparte.
    The French Republican calendar, also known as the French Revolutionary calendar, was a calendar system created during the French Revolution to replace the Gregorian calendar. It was used in France from 1793 to 1806.
    • Start Date: September 22, 1792
    • Number of Months: 12
    • Length of Months: 30 days each
    • Number of Days in a Week: 10
    • Names of Months: Vendémiaire, Brumaire, Frimaire, Nivôse, Pluviôse, Ventôse, Germinal, Floréal, Prairial, Messidor, Thermidor, and Fructidor

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Ranking factors for popular calendar

  1. Ease of use
    A calendar should be easy to understand, use, and reference for its users. The simplicity of its structure, such as the number of months, days in each month, and rules for determining leap years, can affect its popularity.
  2. Alignment with natural cycles
    How well a calendar aligns with celestial or natural events, such as solstices, equinoxes, and lunar cycles, can impact its popularity. Calendars that closely align with these cycles are generally more popular as they accurately represent the natural world.
  3. Cultural and historical significance
    The cultural, historical, and religious significance of a calendar can affect its popularity. Some calendars have deep-rooted connections to particular cultures, religions, or civilizations and are widely used by those groups.
  4. Standardization and global implementation
    Wide acceptance of a calendar by international organizations, governments, and businesses can play a significant role in its popularity.
  5. Integration with technology
    The ease of integration with digital tools, such as computers, smartphones, and software applications, can affect the popularity of a calendar. Users generally prefer calendars that can be easily accessed, viewed, and updated through their devices.
  6. Adaptability and flexibility
    Calendars that can adapt to changes in society, culture, or scientific understanding are more likely to remain popular. This might include adjustments to leap years, time zones, or other elements that help ensure the calendar remains accurate and relevant.
  7. Aesthetic appeal
    The aesthetic aspects of a calendar, such as its visual design and presentation, can influence people's preference for a particular calendar system. Some users might prefer a more visually appealing calendar, while others might prioritize functionality over aesthetics.
  8. Accurate record-keeping
    The ability of a calendar to keep accurate records over long periods is essential for professional, historical, and scientific purposes. Calendars that provide reliable timekeeping and accounting can become more popular.
  9. Support and availability of resources
    Availability of resources, such as reference materials, tutorials, software applications, and user communities, can influence a calendar's popularity. Users might gravitate towards calendars that are well-supported and have readily accessible resources for learning or troubleshooting.

About this ranking

This is a community-based ranking of the most popular calendar. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or calendar is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!

Statistics

  • 2662 views
  • 224 votes
  • 10 ranked items

Voting Rules

A participant may cast an up or down vote for each calendar once every 24 hours. The rank of each calendar is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.

More information on most popular calendar

Calendars have been used for centuries as a way to keep track of time and important events. Today, there are many different types of calendars available, from traditional paper versions to digital calendars that can be accessed on smartphones and computers. With so many options to choose from, it can be difficult to determine which calendar is the most popular. Some of the factors that may influence people's preferences include ease of use, customization options, and compatibility with other devices and software. Whether you prefer a physical calendar that you can hang on your wall or a digital one that you can access from anywhere, there is sure to be a calendar that meets your needs. At StrawPoll, we've conducted polls on this topic to find out which calendars are the most popular among our users. Read on to discover the results!

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