There has been no shortage of apocalypse predictions in recent years. And although watching the John Cusack action bomb 2012 may have left you longing for the rapture, one culture warns that the year 2012 is no joke when it comes to mankind’s oblivion.
The latest doomsday countdown comes courtesy of the Mayans. It appears their “Long Count” calendar will reset to zero on December 21st, 2012. The Mayan calendar began in 3114 B.C. and measures time in “baktuns,” or 394-year periods.
Renowned for their innovative math and astrology skills, the Mayans viewed the number 13 as highly significant. But fifty years ago, when a tablet was discovered that stipulated their God would return in the 13th period, the countdown to mankind’s demise officially started.
But before you rush to buy throw pillows for your bomb shelter, you should know that historians are skeptical of the idea that the Mayan calendar signifies anything ominous. In a USA Today interview, Sandra Noble, executive director of the Foundation for the Advancement of Mesoamerican Studies, said, “For the ancient Maya, it was a huge celebration to make it to the end of a whole cycle,” and that the notion of December 21st as the appetizer to apocalypse is “a complete fabrication and a chance for a lot of people to cash in.” So put away the panic button and approach 2012's fresh canvas with a healthy dose of optimism. And if your local Walmart starts stocking up on foil apocalypse protection hats? Take a pass.