(Image Source: Discovery)

BY RICHARD LAYCOCK

ANCHOR CHRISTINA HARTMAN

Never fear, the end is … not quite near. According to new clarification of the Mayan calendar, it turns out the much-talked-about 2012 apocalypse is nothing more than the end of an age -- not the end of the world.

The 2009 movie 2012 glorified the theory that Mayan calendars predict the end of the world in 2012. The doomsday prediction stems from one of the Mayans’ many calendars, the long calendar, which is said to end in 2012. In 1987, author Jose Arguelles first introduced the prophesies of the Mayan end in his book "The Mayan Factor," and a cult following ensued.

But now, experts are refuting the doomsday idea. With 2012 approaching, CNTV went to an archaeological summit in Mexico called, "Mayas and Time Conceptions", to see if there was any validity behind the claim.

“But archaeology experts said that the end of the cycle represents a new era of renovation and continuation of time in a calendar that constantly renews itself and continues.
Erick Velasquez, researcher of National Autonomous Univ. of Mexico, said, ‘We have to be clear about this. There is no prophecy for 2012. It's a marketing fallacy.’”

So, what was doomsday may just be a new day. Watch Mojo spoke with an expert in Mayan astrology who puts the Mayan calendar into perspective.

“People got the impression that, well, since this long Mayan cycle is coming to an end, so’s the world -- but in fact it’s like our calendar - we don’t worry the world is coming to an end on December 31st each year cause there’s a new beginning the following day.”

And travel author Joshua Berman tells the Huffington Post, that, actually -- the Mayans will be celebrating in 2012.

“I haven't spoken with a single Mayan or Mayan expert who believes there will be an apocalypse. Instead there is going to be a lot of celebrating and parties. They hope to increase tourism by 10 percent this year.”

According to the BBC, there are only two references to 2012 out of 15,000 registered Mayan texts, neither of which predict an impending end of days.