Sirvikalender

The name comes from the Estonian words , which means to flip through or browse, and , which means a board or tablet. 's collection since 1923, this 18th-century sirvikalender shows a close-up of the symbols used on these wooden calendars. The calendar is made of several thin wooden boards tied together with a cord. This creates a small bundle that is easy to carry. The design is different from the wooden staves (like primstav) often used for calendars in Scandinavia. Instead, the sirvikalender is similar to calendars used by the Sámi people, which are also held together by a cord. Signs that looked like objects were used to mark holidays on the sirvikalender. The markings on the boards utilize runic-like symbols to indicate the days of the week, lunar cycles, and important agricultural dates. == Function ==

parish in Estonia. The logic of the sirvikalender is based on dividing time into hard () and soft () periods, and it suggests that certain jobs are more successful at certain moon phases due to observable factors in nature. Hard times happen during the new moon, full moon, and old moon. These times are good for tasks that need strength or durability. For instance, people traditionally believed that wood cut during a hard time would last longer and not rot, making it better for building houses. These cycles guided everyday life and spiritual beliefs. A new moon () is the best time to start new projects or build things that need to last. The growing waxing moon () is a time of increasing energy. The full moon () is a time of high energy, often chosen for picking medicinal herbs for potency. The waning or shrinking moon () is considered a better time for domestic cleaning and tasks intended to reduce or stop growth, and useful for processes that require breakdown. The old moon or is better suited for finishing tasks like resolving problems or clearing brush to prevent regrowth. == History ==

held by the Estonian National Museum in Tartu. The current dating system used in sirvikalender publications mark time since the Billingen event (sometimes referred to as the "birth of the land"). Since 1978, the Maavalla Koda, an organization promoting Maausk, has printed annual, modernized versions of the calendar that include traditional holiday names and moon phases. The sirvikalendar was designed after close study of the environment to reflect the patterns and energy in nature. While today’s calendars are printed on paper instead of carved into wood, they still use the traditional names for holidays and the moon-based system. Members of Maausk have promoted use of the calendar in modern times. For example, meetings intended to launch a project might be scheduled during the new moon, whereas those focused on overcoming obstacles should ideally be deferred to the old moon. == References ==