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gvoiles

Nov 14, 2012, 2:17 PM

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2012 Mayan calendar nonsense?

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Hi -

I'm new here, but not to travel in other parts of Mexico.

We have an opportunity to see the various fantastic Christmas celebrations in Oaxaca this year but fear the tourist spots will be overrun with 2012 end-times nuts.

We've been so excited to see this region in this season that we really don't want it spoiled by such silliness.

Does anyone on this board have a feeling or guess about how this might play out?

Are we being overly cautious, or is every place already over-booked with such ill-informed people?

Thanks so much in advance for any advice you can offer.

- Gabriel

Vichil

Nov 14, 2012, 5:46 PM

Post #2 of 12 (2728 views)

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Re: [gvoiles] 2012 Mayan calendar nonsense?

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Oaxaca is not a Maya area so I do not see why they would be celebrations there.

(This post was edited by Vichil on Nov 14, 2012, 9:00 PM)

gvoiles

Nov 14, 2012, 6:45 PM

Post #3 of 12 (2717 views)

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Re: [Vichil] 2012 Mayan calendar nonsense?

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Thanks, I appreciate your response. I predict a fabulous trip!

YucaLandia

Nov 15, 2012, 6:04 PM

Post #4 of 12 (2642 views)

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Re: [gvoiles] 2012 Mayan calendar nonsense?

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Is the Maya Calendar system, with 20 day months and highly accurate 52 year cycles, really any more nonsense than the US/Canada/England/Europe using a Roman Catholic calendar, that honors the German/Scandanavian and Greco/Roman Gods and a 6000 year old Jewish tradition. A system that every day honors one of 5 Gods, or some Sun Worship or Moon Worship, with yet more honors to ancient Roman Gods in many months and 2,000 years past Roman Dictators, plus having nonsensical 28, 30, & 31 day months that generally do not fit even multiples of 7 day weeks?

The mathematically nonsensical Roman Catholic calendar used by "modern" humans, was only relatively recently adopted outside of Catholic and Protestant Countries, partly because of its gross inaccuracies, being off a day every 4 years, and off yet more days at the turns of the century, and is so grossly inaccurate that it required us to just ignore 11 days because of the Vatican & Pope's lack of math skills.

So, which is the nonsensical calendar? One that does not allow easy counting of days, throws out 11 days, adds an extra day every few years, honors at least 4 different pantheons of Gods from 2,000 - 6,000 years ago, mixing in token worship of the Moon and Sun every seven day, though, I do like that this issue all came up on Thor's Day (Thursday).

~ ~ ~ ~ vs ~ ~ ~ ~

Curious readers who would like to know more about the surprisingly rational, predictable, math based Maya Calenders can check out: http://yucalandia.wordpress.com/...p-the-sun-day-et-al/ or http://www.mexconnect.com/...;;page=unread#unread
-
Read-on MacDuff
E-visit at http://yucalandia.com

(This post was edited by YucaLandia on Nov 15, 2012, 7:33 PM)

gvoiles

Nov 15, 2012, 6:32 PM

Post #5 of 12 (2633 views)

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Re: [YucaLandia] 2012 Mayan calendar nonsense?

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I completely agree.

I certainly did not intend to indicate the Mayan calendar was nonsense.
I've studied it a bit and find it brilliant and fascinating. I look forward to reading more in the links you supplied, thank you.

What's nonsense is all the people who foolishly believe the calendar somehow predicts "The End of the World" this year.

chinagringo

Nov 15, 2012, 6:48 PM

Post #6 of 12 (2630 views)

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Re: [gvoiles] 2012 Mayan calendar nonsense?

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I think you will probably see way too many of the younger generation looking for an excuse to have a party. When one has more money than sense, it makes the entire cause more authentic when one goes to the birthplace of the concept!
Regards,
Neil
Albuquerque, NM

JuanCha

Nov 18, 2012, 8:08 AM

Post #7 of 12 (2560 views)

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Re: [gvoiles] 2012 Mayan calendar nonsense?

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I reside in San Cristobal de Las Casas, Chiapas which is at the northern edge of the extensive Maya turf in southern Mexico (Chiapas, Yucatan, Quinta Rooand on in to Guatemala and other parts of Central Amer). Chiapas has almost a 40% Mayan population.

Most of the 2012 Maya Calendar End-of-the-World frenzy is a gringo-induced mania promoted by authors, news writers, booksellers, New-Age extremists, tour industry, etc.

While there are and will be various "authentic" Mayan events to commemorate and celebrate (and some of those are off-limits to non-indigenous), much of the hoopla and hype is purely commercial to attract naive tourists. The price tag associated with of many of the events is anywhere from 10X to 100X normal prices. The hype has been successful as many hotels were booked up months in advance (and at grossly inflated room rates).

Last year at Palenque, a pseudo-Maya "shaman" offered to use his influence to get me in to a 2012 Calendar event "deep in the jungle - only Mayans allowed" for "only U$500").

So be aware that the liklihood of getting fleeced, hyped and hoodwinked is very high re Maya 2012 events (the one at Chichen Itza is one example).
JuanCha de: Santa Fe NM, San Cristobal de Las Casas Chiapas, San Diego CA

Vichil

Nov 20, 2012, 11:36 AM

Post #8 of 12 (2491 views)

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Re: [gvoiles] 2012 Mayan calendar nonsense?

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The modern Maya sense of time is not linear but cyclical. Most modern Mayas I have met told me that after this calendar ends another will start. I have yet to meet a modern Maya who believes the end of the wolrd is coming.
All the hoopla is an oportunity for the tour companies and the various Maya states to increase tourism. It is a nice exuse for parties not unlike the hoopla for year 2000. Considering what a pain it is to count in the various languages I can see why they would like to start again but this time, I bet it will be in Spanish,,,

YucaLandia

Nov 21, 2012, 9:40 AM

Post #9 of 12 (2457 views)

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Re: [Vichil] 2012 Mayan calendar nonsense?

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A Maya Calendar(s) expert friend of our likes to use the analogy of an old-school car odometer.

When it gets to 99,999.9, it's fun for everybody to stop and watch it roll over to 00,000.0 .

The Maya Long Count version of this is: 12.19.19.17.19 turning over to 13.0.0.0.0 - the end of a 2 million day counting cycle.
-
Read-on MacDuff
E-visit at http://yucalandia.com

Vichil

Nov 21, 2012, 7:41 PM

Post #10 of 12 (2425 views)

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Re: [YucaLandia] 2012 Mayan calendar nonsense?

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Last night I asked another couple what they thought about the end of the calander and they said," do not worry it will start again and if it is the end of the world we will all go together". I asked them if they were going to celebrate and they told me the church said it was not a good idea. I guess the church does not want to many drunks around on the 21st.

sfmacaws

Nov 22, 2012, 8:35 PM

Post #11 of 12 (2391 views)

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Re: [Vichil] 2012 Mayan calendar nonsense?

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There's a saying (dicho) here that goes,
Si se acaba el mundo yo me voy para Yucatán

I guess now is as good a time as any.

Jonna - Mérida, Yucatán

Vichil

Nov 23, 2012, 5:56 AM

Post #12 of 12 (2372 views)

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Re: [sfmacaws] 2012 Mayan calendar nonsense?

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That is exactly what we are going to do..