The Somalis use both solar and lunar calendric systems. The Lunar year, in which months correspond to the phases of the moon, is approximately 354.37 days. The months of the lunar year systematically shift with respect to the cycle of the seasons. The lunar calendar is used for religious observations as well as social, economic, and legal contracts. It is commonly used throughout the Muslim world. The solar calendar is used for purposes such as weather forecasting, maritime travel, and identification of the seasons. This paper focuses exclusively with the solar calendar (Amin-tiris or Taqwiim1).
