December has a slew of events to be excited about -- as well as terrified of. Aside from Christmas and the popular doomsday myth of the end of the world on Dec. 21, 2012, numerologists and many alike have been looking forward to 12-12-12. Dec. 12, 2012 will be the last time the month, day and year are the same number in the Gregorian or Christian calendars for the next century until Jan. 1, 2101 (01-01-01). For most people, 12-12-12 presents the last time in their lifetimes to celebrate a day when the numbers align.
So how do people celebrate? In New York City's Times Square, children celebrating their 12th birthday born on Dec. 12 gathered to blow out the candles on a giant birthday cake baring 12-12-12.
In Madrid, street performers gathered with iPad to perform exactly when the time struck 12:12:12 on 12-12-12. All over the world, babies born on the day or parents who scheduled their childbirth for 12-12-12 saw their first rays of limelight as the famous children born on the special date.
Couples all over the world, and of course in the marriage capital of the world Las Vegas, Nev., gathered to wed on the day. According to David's Bridal, a survey indicated a 1,446 percent increase for marriages on Dec. 12 this year as opposed to last year, with more than 7,500 couples slated to marry.
In Tama, Japan, revelers prayed for peace at 12:12:12 at an event called "Light Meeting." Similarly, an organization called Celebrate 12 12 12 is holding a worldwide event for the World Day of Interconnectedness.
"Wherever you are, whoever you are, take some time on December 12, 2012 – perhaps at 12:12 or throughout the day – to celebrate the simple yet transformative understanding that we are all interconnected in the living system called Planet Earth," the website reads. "Let us together share one dream, one heart and one intention with an infinite variety of expressions."
Consecutive date sequences have always held value for people throughout the years, who believe the alignment of numbers have a magical or mystical meaning.
In Chinese numerology, 12 is an important number, combining one, which is yang, and two, which is yin. 12 represents the harmony of yin and yang, which symbolizes the masculine energy of the sun and the feminine energy of the moon.
Mathematicians, on the other hand, take a more practical approach to the magic of 12, since its one of the few numbers that can be event divided into subsets.
A group of children celebrate their 12th birthday in Times Square at a Good Morning America taping in New York December 12, 2012. The date, written as 12/12/12 is the last major numerical date using the Gregorian or Christian calendar for almost another century. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly
Vincent Rubino, 12, of Manalapan, New Jersey, celebrates his 12th birthday in Times Square, New York December 12, 2012. The date, written as 12/12/12 is the last major numerical date using the Gregorian or Christian calendar for almost another century. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly
A group of children celebrate their 12th birthday in Times Square, New York December 12, 2012. The date, written as 12/12/12 is the last major numerical date using the Gregorian or Christian calendar for almost another century. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly
A street performer poses with an iPad with the time reading 12:12:12 in the Plaza Mayor in Madrid, December 12, 2012. December 12, 2012 is the last day in this century where the numeral date can be all the same number. REUTERS/Paul Hanna
Babies born on Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2012 are displayed for a photo opportunity at a hospital in Mumbai, India, on the day. The date 12/12/12, seen as auspicious by astrologers, saw an influx of mothers to local hospitals looking to give birth on the date which won't happen again for nearly 100 years, local media reported. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)
Four of 12 couples kiss after exchanging rings during a wedding ceremony at the Peak in Hong Kong, an event to celebrate weddings on the date of December 12, 2012. REUTERS/Bobby Yip
Twelve couples take part in a wedding ceremony at the Peak in Hong Kong, an event to celebrate getting married on the date of December 12, 2012. REUTERS/Bobby Yip
People pray for peace during 12:12:12, at an event called "Light Meeting" in Tama, west of Tokyo December 12, 2012, marking the last day in this century where the numeral date appear with the same numbers. REUTERS/Yuriko Nakao
A man applies the finishing touches to a cake which reads, "12.12.12" at a shop in Panchkula, in the northern Indian state of Haryana December 12, 2012. REUTERS/Ajay Verma
Shudi Tang, walks past a balloon commemorating her wedding on 12/12/12 as she leaves a marriage office in central Sydney December 12, 2012. A record number of couples are getting married today in Australia in celebration of the last time for almost 90 years that the date will have the same number for the day, month and year. REUTERS/Daniel Munoz
Clocks with the time reading 12:12 are pictured in a park in Duesseldorf December 12, 2012. Wednesday December 12, 2012, is the last day in this century where the numeral date can be all the same number. REUTERS/Ina Fassbender
A newly married couple holding their marriage certificates pose for a photo as others wait in line outside the marriage registration department of a civil affairs bureau in Beijing December 12, 2012. Young Chinese couples rushed to register their marriage on December 12, 2012. The day was seen as auspicious as it is rare that a date contains three "12"s. In Chinese, the number 12 is pronounced like ''Yao Ai'', meaning ''To Love'' in English. More...
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People dressed as Centurions pose with an iPad showing the date "12.12.2012" in front of Rome's ancient Colosseum December 12, 2012. The day was seen as auspicious as it is rare that a date contains three "12"s. REUTERS/Alessandro Bianchi
A man poses with a mobile phone with the time reading 12:12 in front of justice workers shouting slogans in defense of the Spanish public justice system and against the raise of court and registry fees in front of Madrid's main court December 12, 2012. December 12, 2012 is the last day in this century where the numeral date can be all the same number. REUTERS/Andrea Comas
A photographer pictures his mobile phone reading 12:12:12 in front the Basilica Sagrada Familia designed by Catalan modernist architect Antonio Gaudi in Barcelona December 12, 2012. Wednesday December 12, 2012 is the lat day in this century where the numeral date can be all the same number. ReutersA group of children celebrate their 12th birthday in Times Square at a Good Morning America taping in New York December 12, 2012. The date, written as 12/12/12 is the last major numerical date using the Gregorian or Christian calendar for almost another centuryReutersA street performer poses with an iPad with the time reading 12:12:12 in the Plaza Mayor in Madrid, December 12, 2012. December 12, 2012 is the last day in this century where the numeral date can be all the same number. ReutersA group of children celebrate their 12th birthday in Times Square at a Good Morning America taping in New York December 12, 2012. The date, written as 12/12/12 is the last major numerical date using the Gregorian or Christian calendar for almost another century. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly
Vincent Rubino, 12, of Manalapan, New Jersey, celebrates his 12th birthday in Times Square, New York December 12, 2012. The date, written as 12/12/12 is the last major numerical date using the Gregorian or Christian calendar for almost another century. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly
A group of children celebrate their 12th birthday in Times Square, New York December 12, 2012. The date, written as 12/12/12 is the last major numerical date using the Gregorian or Christian calendar for almost another century. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly
A street performer poses with an iPad with the time reading 12:12:12 in the Plaza Mayor in Madrid, December 12, 2012. December 12, 2012 is the last day in this century where the numeral date can be all the same number. REUTERS/Paul Hanna
Babies born on Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2012 are displayed for a photo opportunity at a hospital in Mumbai, India, on the day. The date 12/12/12, seen as auspicious by astrologers, saw an influx of mothers to local hospitals looking to give birth on the date which won't happen again for nearly 100 years, local media reported. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)
Four of 12 couples kiss after exchanging rings during a wedding ceremony at the Peak in Hong Kong, an event to celebrate weddings on the date of December 12, 2012. ReutersA group of children celebrate their 12th birthday in Times Square at a Good Morning America taping in New York December 12, 2012. The date, written as 12/12/12 is the last major numerical date using the Gregorian or Christian calendar for almost another century. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly
Vincent Rubino, 12, of Manalapan, New Jersey, celebrates his 12th birthday in Times Square, New York December 12, 2012. The date, written as 12/12/12 is the last major numerical date using the Gregorian or Christian calendar for almost another century. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly
A group of children celebrate their 12th birthday in Times Square, New York December 12, 2012. The date, written as 12/12/12 is the last major numerical date using the Gregorian or Christian calendar for almost another century. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly
A street performer poses with an iPad with the time reading 12:12:12 in the Plaza Mayor in Madrid, December 12, 2012. December 12, 2012 is the last day in this century where the numeral date can be all the same number. REUTERS/Paul Hanna
Babies born on Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2012 are displayed for a photo opportunity at a hospital in Mumbai, India, on the day. The date 12/12/12, seen as auspicious by astrologers, saw an influx of mothers to local hospitals looking to give birth on the date which won't happen again for nearly 100 years, local media reported. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)
Four of 12 couples kiss after exchanging rings during a wedding ceremony at the Peak in Hong Kong, an event to celebrate weddings on the date of December 12, 2012. REUTERS/Bobby Yip
Twelve couples take part in a wedding ceremony at the Peak in Hong Kong, an event to celebrate getting married on the date of December 12, 2012. REUTERS/Bobby Yip
People pray for peace during 12:12:12, at an event called "Light Meeting" in Tama, west of Tokyo December 12, 2012, marking the last day in this century where the numeral date appear with the same numbers.ReutersA group of children celebrate their 12th birthday in Times Square at a Good Morning America taping in New York December 12, 2012. The date, written as 12/12/12 is the last major numerical date using the Gregorian or Christian calendar for almost another century. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly
Vincent Rubino, 12, of Manalapan, New Jersey, celebrates his 12th birthday in Times Square, New York December 12, 2012. The date, written as 12/12/12 is the last major numerical date using the Gregorian or Christian calendar for almost another century. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly
A group of children celebrate their 12th birthday in Times Square, New York December 12, 2012. The date, written as 12/12/12 is the last major numerical date using the Gregorian or Christian calendar for almost another century. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly
A street performer poses with an iPad with the time reading 12:12:12 in the Plaza Mayor in Madrid, December 12, 2012. December 12, 2012 is the last day in this century where the numeral date can be all the same number. REUTERS/Paul Hanna
Babies born on Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2012 are displayed for a photo opportunity at a hospital in Mumbai, India, on the day. The date 12/12/12, seen as auspicious by astrologers, saw an influx of mothers to local hospitals looking to give birth on the date which won't happen again for nearly 100 years, local media reported. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)
Four of 12 couples kiss after exchanging rings during a wedding ceremony at the Peak in Hong Kong, an event to celebrate weddings on the date of December 12, 2012. REUTERS/Bobby Yip
Twelve couples take part in a wedding ceremony at the Peak in Hong Kong, an event to celebrate getting married on the date of December 12, 2012. REUTERS/Bobby Yip
People pray for peace during 12:12:12, at an event called "Light Meeting" in Tama, west of Tokyo December 12, 2012, marking the last day in this century where the numeral date appear with the same numbers. REUTERS/Yuriko Nakao
A man applies the finishing touches to a cake which reads, "12.12.12" at a shop in Panchkula, in the northern Indian state of Haryana December 12, 2012. ReutersA group of children celebrate their 12th birthday in Times Square at a Good Morning America taping in New York December 12, 2012. The date, written as 12/12/12 is the last major numerical date using the Gregorian or Christian calendar for almost another century. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly
Vincent Rubino, 12, of Manalapan, New Jersey, celebrates his 12th birthday in Times Square, New York December 12, 2012. The date, written as 12/12/12 is the last major numerical date using the Gregorian or Christian calendar for almost another century. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly
A group of children celebrate their 12th birthday in Times Square, New York December 12, 2012. The date, written as 12/12/12 is the last major numerical date using the Gregorian or Christian calendar for almost another century. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly
A street performer poses with an iPad with the time reading 12:12:12 in the Plaza Mayor in Madrid, December 12, 2012. December 12, 2012 is the last day in this century where the numeral date can be all the same number. REUTERS/Paul Hanna
Babies born on Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2012 are displayed for a photo opportunity at a hospital in Mumbai, India, on the day. The date 12/12/12, seen as auspicious by astrologers, saw an influx of mothers to local hospitals looking to give birth on the date which won't happen again for nearly 100 years, local media reported. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)
Four of 12 couples kiss after exchanging rings during a wedding ceremony at the Peak in Hong Kong, an event to celebrate weddings on the date of December 12, 2012. REUTERS/Bobby Yip
Twelve couples take part in a wedding ceremony at the Peak in Hong Kong, an event to celebrate getting married on the date of December 12, 2012. REUTERS/Bobby Yip
People pray for peace during 12:12:12, at an event called "Light Meeting" in Tama, west of Tokyo December 12, 2012, marking the last day in this century where the numeral date appear with the same numbers. REUTERS/Yuriko Nakao
A man applies the finishing touches to a cake which reads, "12.12.12" at a shop in Panchkula, in the northern Indian state of Haryana December 12, 2012. REUTERS/Ajay Verma
Shudi Tang, walks past a balloon commemorating her wedding on 12/12/12 as she leaves a marriage office in central Sydney December 12, 2012. A record number of couples are getting married today in Australia in celebration of the last time for almost 90 years that the date will have the same number for the day, month and year. REUTERS/Daniel Munoz
Clocks with the time reading 12:12 are pictured in a park in Duesseldorf December 12, 2012. Wednesday December 12, 2012, is the last day in this century where the numeral date can be all the same number. REUTERS/Ina Fassbender
A newly married couple holding their marriage certificates pose for a photo as others wait in line outside the marriage registration department of a civil affairs bureau in Beijing December 12, 2012. Young Chinese couples rushed to register their marriage on December 12, 2012. The day was seen as auspicious as it is rare that a date contains three "12"s. In Chinese, the number 12 is pronounced like ''Yao Ai'', meaning ''To Love'' in English. More...
more
People dressed as Centurions pose with an iPad showing the date "12.12.2012" in front of Rome's ancient Colosseum December 12, 2012. The day was seen as auspicious as it is rare that a date contains three "12"s.Reuters
