The many uses of
the "horse race" calendar
 Introduction
It's pretty easy to know which day of the week it
is. Similarly, we can more or less tell the time of day merely by looking
outside the window. But how many of us can tell the date without referring
to the calendar?
Counting the
days
Since the dawn of civilsation, mankind has looked
towards the heavens to determine important events like planting and harvesting.
The Egyptians as far back as 4236 BC noticed that the star Sirius rose next
to the sun every 365 days. The Babylonians (about 2000 BC) and much later,
the Mayans (between 250 and 900) were one of the first peoples to use the
solar system and nearby galaxies to measure time. These heavenly signs and
portents were then extrapolated onto carvings and tablets for easy reference.
The Mayan Pyramid of Kukulkan was used as a calendar of 365 days. Similarly,
an Aztec calendar, called the xiuhpohualli, also has 365 days. These early
calendars provided a blueprint of sorts for the very same calendars that
we use today.
The Gregorian calendar in use today serves as an
international standard in most countries, notable exceptions being Thailand,
India and Muslim countries. It was introduced after the Julian calendar which
had months of fixed lengths slowly shifted off course over the years. It
is ironic indeed that the calendars of the distant past were far more accurate
than 'modern' ones!
The Malaysian 'horse race' calendar
Although the Gregorian calendar is commonly use
here in Malaysia, the traditional Hijri, Chinese and Indian lunar calendars
are commonly used for setting traditional festivals and events.
One particular calendar that has been always been
useful, and is a must have among households and offices is the "horse race"
calendar, also known in Malay as the "Lumba Kuda" calendar. Remember the
Lat cartoon where the father asked the son to get him the calendar "with
the little horses"? This calendar is 'multi faceted' – it includes not
just the Gregorian dates but also the the Hijri, Chinese and Indian lunar
months. Public holidays are marked with festive graphics relevant to the
religion and school breaks are shaded in pale yellow like a highlighter pen.
Turf meets are marked with little galloping horses replete with jockeys.
The Chinese zodiac signs are placed at the top of some horse race calendar.
The 12 Gregorian months are printed on 12 sheets
of light weight paper (about 50gms) stapled onto a decorative piece of cardboard
of the same width. This cardboard doubles as an advertisement. The calendars
come in various sizes - for wall hanging (24 by 27 cm); desktop (13x13 cm)
and pocket (8.5x6.3 cm). The last is not recommended for the visually challenged.
Because the horse race calendar is so useful, companies
often package them as corporate gifts for clients. If you are not lucky enough
to be given one, they can also be purchased from local book and stationery
shops here in Penang. It is uncertain if these calendars are available in
all parts of the world. For instance, I have relatives in Australia and the
UK who will request for a few copies to be posted to them every year. My
aunties from Johor and Kuala Lumpur will also remind me to send them some
too.
Another year will soon come to an end. As we usher
in the beginning of a new one, so the mad rush to get 'horse race' calendars
begin. What better way to face the new year than with a calendar which is
packed with all the necessary information needed for the year to come!
Written by
Adrian Cheah |
