The Mayan calendar consisted of 260 days. They had twenty names for days. The days got numbered for 1 to 13 after thirteen they started over counting again.

Here are the names and meanings of the 20 days. Imix Waterlily, Ik’ Wind, Ak’bal Nig K’an Corn, Chikchan Snake, Kimi Death head, Manik’ Hand, Muluk Water, Ok Dog, Chuwen Frog, Eb Skull, Ben Corn stalks, Ix Jaguar, Men Eagle, Kib Shell, Kabam Earth, Etz’nab Flint, Kawak Storm cloud, Ahaw Lord. The Mayan also track also tracked a solar year which has 365 days a year. Month names and means: Pohp Mat, Wo? Sip? Sotz’ Bat, Sek ?, Xul Dog, Yaxk’in New sun, Mol water, Ch’en Black?, Yax Green?, Zak ht, White?, Keh Red?, Mak ?, K’ank’in ?, Muwan Owl, Pax ?, K’ayab Turtle, Kumk’u ?.

The Maya also belived in gods. Below are the names of the most famous of the Mayan gods.

Itzamná (eets ahm NAH) God of all, Kinich Ahau (keen eech ah AHW) God of the sun, Chac (CHAHK) God of rain, Yum Kaax (yoom KAHSH) God of corn, Kukulcán (koo kool KAHN) God of Wind, Ek Chuah (ek choo AH) God of war, Xaman Ek (shah mahn Ek) God of the North Star, Ix Chel (eesh CHEL) Goddess of childbirth, Ix Tab (eesh THAB) Goddess of suicide, Ah Puch (ah POOCH) God of death, Manik (mahn EEK) God of human sacrifice, Bolontiku (bo lo ti KOO) God of the lower world.

People of the ancient Maya believed that their rulers were descendants of the gods and their blood or the blood from royal captives was the ultimate sacrifice. Human sacrifice was forbidden by the god Kukucan it did happen, but not often. Except at Chichen Itz when a national crisis was going on. Then they would sacrifice hundreds of voluntary victims.

Bloodletting is an important ritual in Mayan culture. Bloodletting is important in two ways to the Mayan. First is sacrifice to the gods. Second is calling the vision serpent. Their ancestors would come out of the serpent's mouth and speak to them. Snakes are commonly associated with visions. Reasons a Mayan person might want to let blood: warfare, a new ruler, birth of an heir or other important dates.

The oldest son is how the new king is chosen. After the birth of an heir , the king would let blood as an offering to his ancestors. A human sacrifice was offered when a new king was put on the thrown.

The Maya believed that the universe was divided into many layers.The Mayan people believed that the crust of the earth was a thin layer between the real world and the spirit world. They saw skulls and skeletons as signs of regeneration. They saw bones as seeds and in that way they believed that everything dies and goes into the earth and from the earth comes new life.The Mayan shamans told them that there was a spirit world behind their reality. Birth was coming out of the spirit world and death was returning to the spirit world. They believed that there was an unending cycle that affected everything. The crops would grow and die if the spirit world let them.