The Maya haab, the 365-day solar year, ended
with a 5-day period called “Uayeb.” According
to Bishop Diego de Landa, preparations for the commencement
of a New Year began during the Uayeb period of the preceding
year. This paper concerns the events and ceremonies encompassing
the beginning of a Cauac year and discusses the parallels
between Landa's descriptions of these events and certain
figures and activities portrayed in several almanacs of
the Madrid Codex. Based on the calendrical structure
of these almanacs, we argue that they pertain specifically
to Uayeb-related ceremonies for a single year within the
52-year cycle, beginning on a day 13 Cauac.