Download on the App Store

Updated 2026-06-25

The 13th Lunar Day in the Tibetan Calendar

What the 13th day of the Tibetan-Mongolian lunar month is traditionally held to mean — its character, its observances, and what cutting your hair on it is said to bring. tradition · medium confidence

One of the pre-full-moon purification days.

The 13th lunar day is a waxing-moon day (day 13 of the bright fortnight). Purification day in some traditions. In zurkhai, the lunar day is one of the main inputs used to decide whether a given date is favourable for an undertaking such as travel, a business opening or a medical treatment.

Cutting hair on the 13th lunar day

Tibetan-Mongolian almanacs assign every lunar day a specific result for cutting hair. The 13th day is traditionally said to lead "to happiness"favourable for a haircut. (The first day of life, by contrast, and several waning days are avoided.) The Zurkhai app shows this haircut reading for every day of the year, so you never have to count lunar days by hand.

The 13th day in the month

Across the lunar month, virtue is concentrated on the holy days — the 8th (Medicine Buddha), 10th (Guru Rinpoche), 15th (full moon), 25th (dakini) and 30th (new moon) — when the fruits of action are traditionally said to multiply. The 13th day leads up toward the full moon, the high point of the bright fortnight.

12th day14th day15th day30th day

When the 13th lunar day falls — upcoming dates

The 13th lunar day recurs about once a lunar month. Here are its next dates in the Tibetan-Mongolian calendar, each carrying its own day-sign — the animal and element of the 60-day cycle:

2026-06-27Water Monkey
2026-07-27Water Tiger
2026-08-25Metal Sheep
2026-09-24Metal Ox
2026-10-24Metal Sheep
2026-11-22Metal Rat
2026-12-22Metal Horse
2027-01-20Earth Pig

Dates follow the Phukpa-school lunar calendar; a lunar day is occasionally doubled or skipped, so spacing varies.

Frequently asked

What does the 13th lunar day mean in the Tibetan calendar?
One of the pre-full-moon purification days.
Is the 13th lunar day good for a haircut?
Cutting hair on the 13th lunar day is traditionally said to lead "to happiness" — a favourable day for a haircut in the Tibetan-Mongolian tradition.
Is the 13th day a special observance day?
Purification day in some traditions.
How is the lunar day used?
In the Tibetan tradition the lunar day — together with the weekday, lunar mansion and one's birth animal-sign — is consulted to choose auspicious timing for things like travel, business, moving house or medical treatment.

← All 30 lunar days & the 2026 calendar · Is today a good day for a haircut? →

Traditional belief, for reference — not advice. Day meanings and haircut results vary by lineage and almanac.