Aztec and Maya Calendar
In the tonalpohualli, the sacred Aztec calendar, Wednesday July 31, 1996 is:
Xihuitl:
solar year
10 - Tecpatl (flint knife)
Long Count:
Mayan calendar
12.19.3.6.13
Xiuhpohualli:
365-day calendar
15 - Quecholli (XV)
(Correlation: Alfonso Caso [adjust])
The significance of this day
Aztec facts
The conqueror Hernán Cortés arrived on the eastern shores of the Aztec empire in the year 1-Acatl (1519). It had been predicted that on such a year Quetzalcoatl would return from the east to retake his rightful share of the throne. This belief probably weakend the defense of the Aztecs.
Day Acatl (Reed) is governed by Tezcatlipoca as its provider of tonalli (Shadow Soul) life energy. Acatl is the scepter of authority which is, paradoxically, hollow. It is a day when the arrows of fate fall from the sky like lightningbolts. A good day to seek justice, a bad day to act against others.
The thirteen day period (trecena) that starts with day 1-Cuetzpalin (Lizard) is ruled by Itzlacoliuhqui. The 13 days of this trecena are governed by the meting out of irrational rewards and punishments. These are 13 days of confusion, a time when the noble and ignoble have equal chance to be raised up or thrown down. The warrior must be like the lizard, who is not hurt from a high fall but, instead, immediately climbs back to its perch. These are good days to keep out of sight; bad days to attract attention.
Mel Gibson was born on day 10-Acatl.