Long before weather forecasts existed, Mongolian herders used a traditional system called the “Nine Nines” to understand winter. This system begins on the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year. Winter is divided into nine stages, each lasting nine days.
Together, these 81 days describe how winter slowly changes. Each stage is named after what people see around them: how cold the land feels, how animals behave and how everyday objects are affected by the weather. The Nine Nines helped herders observe nature closely and prepare for the hardest parts of winter without using modern science or technology.
While some Mongolians no longer practice the nomadic lifestyle or live in gers (traditional Mongolian homes), most still count down winter using the Nine Nines.
As the cold settled in Ulaanbaatar, my Mongolian friends began consoling me that winter would only last so long. The Nine Nines are a reassurance that spring will come. Each “nine” is tracked through signs from everyday life, using familiar objects and animals to show just how cold – or hopeful, the season feels.
The first three nines describe winter at its coldest.
