History Main / MayanDoomsday

* Solar flares: Solar flares happen all the time, but obviously solar flares happening on December 21, 2012 would be evil, world-ending, magic solar flares.

* Nibiru, a.k.a. Planet X: A planet about as real as [[Franchise/StarWars Tatooine]] which was supposed to hit the Earth in May of 2003. For some reason, the theory was later dusted off and applied to -- you guessed it -- December 21, 2012. Conspiracy theorists tend to ignore UsefulNotes/{{NASA}}, other space agencies, and the many amateur astronomers out there (some of them with gear that would make a professional observatory envious) [[ObliviousAstronomers when they assure us that if something the size of a planet were going to hit the Earth,]] they'd know about it ''years'' ahead of time.[[note]]Presumably, Planet X is supposed to be important again in the [[WesternAnimation/DuckDodgersInTheTwentyFourthAndAHalfCentury 24th and a half century]].[[/note]]

[[quoteright:350:[[Videogame/Wizard101 https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/comet.jpg]]]]

* Manga/StoneOcean, the 6th Arc of ''Manga/JojosBizarreAdventure'' was originally published between the years of 2000-2003 and takes place during 2011 and ends in 2012. [[spoiler: [[ReligiousBruiser Enrico Pucci]] tries to synthesis the ultimate [[FightingSpirit Stand ability]], Made In Heaven, to accelerate time and reset the Universe so the [[HeroicLineage Joestars]] do not exist]].

* [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Today%27s_featured_article/December_20,_2012 In December 20, 2012]], Wiki/{{Wikipedia}} made sure to put on "Today's Featured Article" the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2012_phenomenon one for what was supposed to happen the following day]].

-->''"If I'm Mayan, I'm dyin'."''

* The ''TabletopGame/{{Shadowrun}}'' universe backstory has the fifth (our) world end on December 24th, 2011 according to the Mayan calendar, and the sixth world begins, bringing with it magic, dragons, new types of humans that resemble the legendary dwarves, orks, elves and trolls, among others.
** ''TabletopGame/{{Equinox}}'': Earth (or, rather, the Earth Belt) is described as being in the Eighth World, a reference to ''TabletopGame/{{Earthdawn}}'' and ''TabletopGame/{{Shadowrun}}'' being set in the Fourth and Sixth Worlds, respectively. These numbers are based on the Mayan calendar.

* Manga/StoneOcean, the 6th Arc of ''Manga/JojosBizarreAdventure'' was originally published between the years of 2000-2003 and takes place during 2012. [[spoiler: [[ReligiousBruiser Enrico Pucci]] tries to synthesis the ultimate [[FightingSpirit Stand ability]], Made In Heaven, to accelerate time and reset the Universe so the [[HeroicLineage Joestars]] do not exist]].

* Polar shift: Supposedly, the magnetic poles were going to reverse in 2012. Didn't happen, and wouldn't have caused disaster if it had. The idea that that this would be disastrous seems to have originated from misunderstanding of what the "polar shift" means. The magnetic poles reverse themselves relatively frequently, averaging once every 2 million years or so. But this doesn't have any significant impact on life; whenever the next geomagnetic reversal happens, the only thing that humans are likely to notice is that compasses will start pointing south instead of north. But the believers of the "polar shift" theory conflated the magnetic poles with the actual ''physical'' poles, at the axis of Earth's rotation. They believed that in 2012, the entire planet would flip 180 degrees on its axis, which would indeed have caused cataclysmic damage. Fortunately, it's also physically impossible for such a thing to just spontaneously happen. It would require an external force, such as [[ColonyDrop another planet colliding with Earth]] at just the right angle[[note]]It's speculated that such an event might by UsefulNotes/{{Venus}} rotates "backwards".[[/note]]...at which point a polar shift would be the least of our problems.

** '''Fact''': In 1966, an anthropologist named Michael D. Coe pulled a mathematically significant date from the Maya Long Count calendar and concluded (incorrectly) that they believed that this date marked the end of the world. Notably, the date that Coe selected was originally December 24, ''2011'', later revised to January 11, 2013. The 2012 date was first put forward by Robert J. Sharer in 1983. Later research in the '90s suggested that the Maya ''didn't'' see 2012 as the end of the world, but rather, as a cause for partying like it's 1999--that is, it was simply the end of that calendar and the beginning of a new age. The end of the 13th b'ak'tun (Long Count calendar cycle) simply resulted in the beginning of the 14th b'ak'tun. The ends of the 1st through 12th b'ak'tuns hadn't coincided with any epic disasters, nor had the 1st day of the 1st b'ak'tun. And the fact that only 13 b'ak'tuns are known from the Maya codices is almost certainly because the majority of those scrolls were burned as "heresy" by Catholic priests after the Spanish conquest. The idea of the Maya apocalypse prophecy was then discredited in scholarly circles. By then, however, New Agers and {{conspiracy theorist}}s had latched onto Sharer's revised date, and the rest is (embarrassing) history. Also, whenever the "Mayan" calendar is shown, expect it to [[{{Mayincatec}} actually be the more visually appealing Aztec calendar]].

As you may have noticed, [[SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome none of this stuff ever happened]]. However, popular culture had a lot of fun with the supposed doomsday and that's what we're here to record.[[note]]Fun fact for posterity, by the way: This page was launched on December 22, 2012.[[/note]]

Now that December 21, 2012 has come and gone, it's safe to say that this is now a DiscreditedTrope. It made a comeback in early 2021 due to the ongoing UsefulNotes/COVID19Pandemic and polarized political climate in the U.S., leading to a lot of [[LIsForDyslexia dyslexia jokes]].

* [[http://tehcorbzor.deviantart.com/art/352-343939180 This]].

* "Fruitcake" Mullins in ''Hard Time'' is a crazed scientist who claims he can predict the future, and who believes in the Mayan apocalypse. However, he thinks "the end of linear time" is to come on December ''23rd'', 2012. The WhereAreTheyNowEpilogue reveals that [[spoiler:it was the end... ''for him''; he died that day.]]

* The entire plotline of the Invisible City novels by M. G. Harris.
* Creator/BernardWerber has a character believing into the apocalyptic prophecy in ''Le Miroir de Cassandre'', partially because his mother was from Mayan descent. Another character jokes he will think about him on the morning of December 22, 2012.

* The ''Series/GoOn'' episode "The World Ain't Over 'Till It's Over" (aired December 4, 2012) takes place on December 21, 2012. [[{{Cloudcuckoolander}} Mr. K]] believes the world will end, but nothing happens.

* According to ''Series/TheXFiles'', December 21, 2012 is the date of a future AlienInvasion. WordOfGod says that the upcoming miniseries will address whether or not anything actually happened.

* The 1990's SpeculativeDocumentary series ''Ancient Prophecies'' got in on the fun quite early, predicting that mankind's technology would suddenly come to life and rebel (think the plot of ''Film/MaximumOverdrive''). Cue humorous shots of a guy getting his tie caught in a printer, an anachronistic 90's computer screen flashing "The End is Near", and a Christmas tree shaking around menacingly.
* The Discovery Channel had a special on this, taking the proposed "how the world would end" ideas that were scientifically possible. But the end conclusion was "there's a chance any one of these could happen anyway, regardless of date".

* "2012 (It Ain't the End)" by Jay Sean
* "Till the World Ends" by Music/BritneySpears (the song doesn't mention 2012, but the official music video does)
* IndustrialMetal act Hanzel Und Gretyl's album ''2012'' was dedicated to the Mayan prophecies.

* Music/MyChemicalRomance's 2010 concept album ''Music/DangerDaysTheTrueLivesOfTheFabulousKilljoys'' takes place TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture (in 2019, that is) in an AfterTheEnd scenario. Promotional material is vague on what caused the collapse but implies that 2012 had something to do with it.

* The conspiracy-themed MMORPG ''VideoGame/TheSecretWorld'' commemorated the date with a special event titled "End of Days", which started on December 21, 2012.
* A bulk of the ''Franchise/AssassinsCreed'' series takes place in 2012, with the MythArc concerning the [[spoiler:giant solar flare that is supposed to reach Earth and eradicate all life]] on December 21, 2012.

* The less than stellar {{UsefulNotes/Steam}} videogame ''Revelations 2012'' had its plot revolve around this. Supposedly, on the fated day, a [[SealedEvilInACan sealed demon would come out of his can]] and wreak havoc on the world. Four chosen people had to make sure this didn't happen.
* ''The Omega Stone'' (the sequel to ''The Riddle of the Sphinx'' - no, not ''[[RiddleOfTheSphinx that trope]]'') is set in the year 2012. You, the protagonist, are warned about an apocalypse that can take place anytime, and you are sent to stop it from happening.
* ''VideoGame/AzraelsTear'' is set around this time, and indeed there is a hint in the backstory that the world might end, what with all the huge earthquakes and plagues, although just so you know, this doesn't dominate the plot, which is about exploration and piecing together the story of what happened with the place and the characters in the past, and eventually acquiring [[HolyGrail a certain artifact]].[[note]]Well, yes, ultimately to save the world, but that doesn't really become apparent until later, unless you read the box blurb.[[/note]] An unusual example in that the game was published in ''1996'', over 16 years before this setting.
* ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoV'' (set in 2013) makes a brief reference to this in its in-game radio. Ronald "Nervous Ron" Jakowski, the ConspiracyTheorist host of Blaine County Talk Radio's "Blaine County Radio Community Hour" podcast replays, dates his podcast to be from less than three months from this date (late September to early October 2012).
* VideoGame/UniverseAtWar: The Hierarchy's [[AlienInvasion invasion]] of Earth began on 2012.

[[folder:Web Comics]]
* In ''WebComic/TheNonAdventuresOfWonderella'', turns out the only reason the Mayans thought the world would end in 2012 was because a time travelling Wonderella (who they mistook for a god) said it would.
-->'''Wonderella:''' Like you guys are going to last that long anyway!

* Debunked by WebVideo/SciShow [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjKUqQ2uSzg here]] and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVeOJuhjmps here]].

* [[{{Website/Cracked}} Cracked.com's]] [[http://www.cracked.com/video_18511_the-embarrassing-aftermath-mayan-apocalypse.html The Embarrassing Aftermath of the Mayan 'Apocalypse']]
* [[http://tehcorbzor.deviantart.com/art/352-343939180 This]].

* Made into a RunningGag by WebVideo/JesseCox and {{WebVideo/Wowcrendor}} during the ''Podcast/CoxNCrendor Show'' podcast. Jesse & Crendor would frequently remark about evil Mayan robots rising against humanity in their takeover bit and then make it more ridiculous from there.

* In December 21, 2012, {{LetsPlay/Chuggaaconroy}} [[https://twitter.com/chuggaaconroy/status/282166327068725249 posted]] a [[{{Website/Twitter}} Tweet]] making fun of how people were hyping over the supposed end of the world. It's more of a humorous post, really.
-->''Days like today make me glad that I already stopped the moon from crashing last year! Play [[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaMajorasMask Majora's Mask]] today, you owe it to yourself!''
* Website/KnowYourMeme claims the phenomenon has reached memetic status, [[http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/december-21st-2012 as seen here.]]

* ''LetsPlay/{{Mahu}}'', the narrative let's play "The Wheel of Fate"
* The ''WebVideo/QuintonReviews'' episode "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ML5wQsGynQs That Time the World Ended]]" discusses and mocks various failed doomsday predictions, with an emphasis on the 2012 one.
* Invoked in WebVideo/MothersBasement's "What's so great about Manga/{{Haikyuu}}?":
--> The world didn't end in 2012, but if you were a fan of Japanese high school boys' volleyball, things were certainly looking dire.

* Spoofed in the opening of the 2012 "Treehouse of Horror" episode of ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons''.
** Also, in the chalkboard gag for preceding "Once Upon a Time in Springfield", Bart writes, "The world may end in 2012, but this show won't."

* ''WesternAnimation/ScoobyDooMysteryIncorporated'' which started in 2011, played with this, indirectly, with Nibiru being the BigBad.

* Mentioned in ''WesternAnimation/TheAmazingWorldOfGumball'' episode "The End": Gumball and Darwin see signs that (they believe) will signify the end of the world, and are put even further on edge when Bobert mentions an upcoming solar eclipse. Bobert mentions the Mayan prophecy to them, which he immediately dismisses as superstitious nonsense.

As you may have noticed, [[RealityEnsues none of this stuff ever happened]]. However, popular culture had a lot of fun with the supposed doomsday and that's what we're here to record.[[note]]Fun fact for posterity, by the way: This page was launched on December 22, 2012.[[/note]]

Now that December 21, 2012 has come and gone, it's safe to say that this is now a DiscreditedTrope. It made a comeback in early 2021 due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and polarized political climate in the U.S., leading to a lot of dyslexia jokes.

Now that December 21, 2012 has come and gone, it's safe to say that this is now a DiscreditedTrope.

[[folder: Tabletop Games]]

** '''Fact''': In 1966, an anthropologist named Michael D. Coe pulled a mathematically significant date from the Maya Long Count calendar and concluded (incorrectly) that they believed that this date marked the end of the world. Notably, the date that Coe selected was originally December 24, ''2011'', later revised to January 11, 2013. The 2012 date was first put forward by Robert J. Sharer in 1983. Later research in the '90s suggested that the Maya ''didn't'' see 2012 as the end of the world, but rather, as a cause for partying like it's 1999--that is, it was simply the end of that calendar and the beginning of a new age. The idea of the Maya apocalypse prophecy was then discredited in scholarly circles. By then, however, New Agers and {{conspiracy theorist}}s had latched onto Sharer's revised date, and the rest is (embarrassing) history. Also, whenever the "Mayan" calendar is shown, expect it to [[{{Mayincatec}} actually be the more visually appealing Aztec calendar]].

* Polar shift: Supposedly, the magnetic poles were going to reverse in 2012. Didn't happen, and wouldn't have caused disaster if it had.