Interest in the Mayan Calendar has grown tremendously due to reports that the world will end on December 21, 2012. The last day of the Maya long count, that day marks the end of a 5000 year cycle.

The Maya calendar is a system of calendars and almanacs used in the Maya civilization of pre-Columbian Mesoamerica, and in some modern Maya communities in highland Guatemala and Oaxaca, Mexico.

The end of the 5000 year cycle is cause for great celebration among surviving Mayans, who generally do not support the doomsday prophecies. On December 22, 2012, anyone using the ancient calendars would simply start over again at Year 1.
Some scientists, spiritual healers and writers are the ones who promote the pending apocalypse. They may simply be cashing in on people’s interest in when the end of the world is coming. It seems that everyone would like to know when his or her last day can be expected.

While it might not cause the end of the world, a couple of interesting things will happen on 12/21/12. It is the date of the winter solstice, the first day of winter, the shortest day or longest night of the year.

The winter solstice comes every year. What makes the solstice of 2012 unique is that the sun will be aligned with the center of the Milky Way. Scientists say that has not happened for over 20,000 years. It is supposed to occur at 11:11 pm UT.
Numerologists are interested in the repeating numbers: 11:11 12/21/12. But the numbers are not really unique. In modern calendars, 12/21/12 occurs every 100 years.

The Aztec Solar Calendar is interesting for different reasons. It consists of 365 days like our own calendars except that there is no leap day. According to Aztec traditions, all people would eventually perish because they are imperfect. 52 years was an important length of time to them. They believed that the gods could destroy the world at the end of any 52 year cycle.

The Aztec Solar Calendar and the Mayan Calendar round are basically the same. They both consist of 365 days. Only the names are different. The calendars end at the same time. Both cultures counted the number of suns. They said that we were living in the 5th sun. 2012 is marked as the end of the 5th sun. What does all of this mean? It’s hard to say. The 6th sun should begin and life should go on.

The Mayan civilization was highly advanced in terms of astronomy, mathematics and writing. The culture flourished between 300 and 900 AD. Widespread use of the Long Count and the Rounds ended with Spanish colonization, as the majority of the indigenous people converted to Catholicism. Their calendars were a part of their religion.

A beautiful example of the Aztec Calendar stone is on display at the National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City. It is also called the Sun stone. Replicas of the sun stone make wonderful wall hangings and unique gifts. Replicas of the Mayan Calendar round, known as the Haab, make wonderful gifts, too.

You can find historical wall plaque reproductions of the Mayan Calendar and the Aztec Calendars online at GlobalHomeAccents.com

Author Bio: You can find the Mayan and Aztec Calendars in Wall Plaque format, which come with historical details cards, perfect for gift giving. Visit Global Home Accents for these and many other historical accents. We also offer a huge selection of Home and Garden decor accessories.

Category: Culture
Keywords: Mayan Calendar, Maya Calendar, Aztec Calendar, The Mayan Calendar, Aztec Solar Calendar, The Aztec C