Mongolia | Zaisan Tolgoi | Second Nine-Nine | Khorz Arkhi Khöldönö

I mentioned earlier that the First of the Nine-Nines—the Nine-Nines being nine periods of nine days each, each period characterized by a certain type of winter weather—started on the day of the Winter Solstice, which occurred here in Mongolia on December 21. The second of the Nine-Nines begins today, December 30.  Known as Khorz Arkhi Khöldönö, this is the time when twice-distilled homemade Mongolian arkhi (vodka) freezes. As you will recall, the first of the Nine-Nines was the time when regular, or once distilled, arkhi freezes. As this indicates, the second period should be colder than the first, since twice-distilled arkhi obviously has a much higher alcohol content. This morning at 2:00 it was  —28°F. This may be cold enough to freeze twice-distilled arkhi. The forecast for the night of December 30-31, however, calls for a relatively balmy —11ºF, probably not cold enough to freeze twice-distilled arkhi. The third Nine-Nine begins on January 9. 

Mongolia | Zaisan Tolgoi | Winter Solstice | First of the Nine-Nines

The Winter Solstice, the astronomical beginning of Winter, occurs here in Zaisan Tolgoi at 11:03 pm, December 21. The day before, December 20, the sun rose at 8:38:13 am and set at 5:01:21 pm for 8 hours, 23 minutes, and 7 seconds of daylight. On the 21st the sun rose at 8:38:48 am and set at 5:01:48 pm for 8 hours, 22 minutes, and 59 seconds of daylight. Thus the day of the 21st was eight seconds shorter than the 20th. Normally the day of the Solstice is the shortest day of the year, but this year, because the Solstice occurs so close to midnight, the shortest day of the year is actually the 22nd, when the sun rises 8:39:20 am and sets at 5:02:17 pm for 8 hours, 22 minutes, and 57 seconds of daylight, making it 2 seconds shorter than December 21. On the 23th the day is already two seconds longer—the same as on the 21st—so we are progressing toward the Spring Equinox, which will occur in Zaisan Tolgoi on March 20, 2026, at 10:46 pm. Thus Winter will last 88 days, 23 hours, and 42 minutes.

In Mongolia the Winter Solstice also marks the beginning of the so-called Nine-Nines: nine periods of nine days each, each period marked by some description of winter weather. According to One Source the tradition started in China but became popular in Mongolia during the Yuan Dynasty, founded by Chingis Khan’s grandson, Khubilai Khan:

The history of “counting the nine” can be traced back as early as the Northern and Southern dynasties (420-589). However, it wasn’t until the Yuan dynasty (1271-1368) that the “Nine Times Nine to Dispel the Cold” countdown calendar emerged.

The first of the nine nine-day periods is Nermel Arkhi Khöldönö, the time when once-distilled homemade Mongolian arkhi (vodka) freezes. The forecast for tonight calls for a low of –14ºF, cold enough, I think, to freeze once-distilled Mongolian moonshine, which is maybe half as strong as store-bought vodka. The Second Nine-Day Period starts on December 30. Stayed tuned for updates.

Mongolia | Baron von Ungern-Sternberg

Interesting story about a Relative Of Baron Von Ungern-Sternberg (the story says she was a descendant of the Baron; he had no children so the woman in question is actually a relative). I wrote at length about the Bloody Baron in False Lama of Mongolia and also in Wanders in the Khentii Mountains of Mongolia: The Source of the Amur River and the Birthplace of the Mongols.

The world-class psychopath and megalomaniac  Baron in his early years

Quote by the Bloody Baron: 

Depravity of revolution! . . . Has anyone ever thought of it besides the French philosopher, Bergson, and the most learned Tashi [Dalai] Lama in Tibet? In the Buddhistic and ancient Christian books we read stern predictions about the time when the war between the good and evil spirits must begin. Then there must come the unknown ‘Curse’ which will conquer the world, blot out culture, kill morality and destroy all the people. Its weapon is revolution. During every revolution the previously experienced intellect-creator will be replaced by the new rough force of the destroyer. He will place and hold in the first rank the lower instincts and desires. Man will be farther removed from the divine and the spiritual. The Great War proved that humanity must progress upward toward higher ideals; but then appeared that Curse which was seen and felt by Christ, the Apostle John, Buddha, the first Christian martyrs, Dante, Leonardo da Vinci, Goethe and Dostoyevsky. It appeared, turned back the wheel of progress and blocked our road to the Divinity. Revolution is an infectious disease and Europe making the treaty with Moscow deceived itself and the other parts of the world. The Great Spirit put at the threshold of our lives Karma, who knows neither anger nor pardon. He will reckon the account, whose total will be famine, destruction, the death of culture, of glory, of honor and of spirit, the death of states and the death of peoples. I see already this horror, this dark, mad destruction of humanity.

Relative of the Bloody Baron: “All these people [are] telling me I should reclaim the throne to Mongolia but I’m literally just a girl who drinks matcha.” She’s also a fox!

The Bloody Baron as a young tyke