The Mayans were known for being great astronomers and predicting things before they happen, such as the destruction of their own kingdom. So, when their 5,000 year calendar abruptly ends on Dec. 21, it isn’t very surprising that many people might believe that is when the world ends.

“People love end of the world stories,” Mayan Expert Mark Van Stone said. “It turns from a scholarly speculation to a popular idea.”

The end of the world idea originated from scholars who were looking at the Mayan calendar and noticed it goes from 3100 to 0. To them, this meant that it would stop or  restart leading to a disaster  or event. This idea spread to the public and became the  phenomenon it is today.
“When someone is mysterious like the Mayan, people like to make up things, creating these modern fantasies,” Van Stone said.

The Mayans knew a lot, they had in-depth knowledge of the solar system.On Dec. 21, the sun will line up with the Galactic equator, causing the Galactic Alignment. According to FHN Earth Science teacher Joe Breen, the Mayans believed humans were born out of it  and they’d go back on that day, hence the end of their calendar.

“I think the Mayan calendar is accurate,” sophomore  Ariel Kirkpatrick said. “But, I know they’re wrong  sometimes.”

The calendar itself consists of three calendars connected within each other, the Tzolk’in, the Haab and  the Long Count. It works by a combination of the  three, where each cycle plays a role in the forecast of  the day.

“They had so much in depth knowledge about the  universe and how it works,” Breen said. “Everyone  thought that their calendar ended because they knew something.”

Public concern of the Mayans predicting the end  of the world is so high that NASA created a section about it on its website. Having already predicted the  existence and flaring of a black hole at the center of the Milky Way, the end of the world is just another one of  the things the Mayans “predicted.” Accurate or not, it’s on their list of predictions.

“I think I might go to sleep that night thinking that  this could be it,” sophomore Madison Kelly said.