By Ben Rankin Comments
End of the 13th Baktun: Surprise, surprise, it's not the end of the world
21 Dec 2012 07:54
Doomsday hour comes and goes in several parts of the world - and we're all still here!
Soiree: Mayan pritest atop a pyramid in Austin, Texas
Reuters
Doomsday hour came and went - and it appears it isn't the end of the world.
According to legend, the ancient Mayans' long-count calendar ended at midnight, ushering in the end of the world.
But, surprise, surprise, it didn't happen.
As the appointed time came and went in several parts of the world, there was no sign of the apocalypse.
Indeed, the social network Imgur posted photos of clocks turning midnight in the Asia-Pacific region with messages such as: "The world has not ended. Sincerely, New Zealand."
In Merida, the celebration of the cosmic dawn opened inauspiciously, with a fumbling of the sacred fire meant to honour the calendar's conclusion.
Gabriel Lemus, the white-haired guardian of the flame, burned his finger on the kindling and later had to scoop up a burning log that fell from the ceremonial brazier on to the stage.
Still, he was convinced that it was a good start, as he was joined by about 1,000 other shamans, seers, stargazers, crystal enthusiasts, yogis, sufis and swamis.
"It is a cosmic dawn," he declared. "We will recover the ability to communicate telepathically and levitate objects ... like our ancestors did."
