UFO lovers, light-seekers and lawyers await Maya end of days

Peruvian shamans perform a ritual at a beach to prevent the end of the world, in Lima on Dec 20, 2012. Shamans performed several rituals to calm believers and ward off the end of the world predictions. At sunrise on Friday, an era closes in the Maya Long Count calendar, an event that has been likened by different groups to the end of days, the start of a new, more spiritual age. -- PHOTO : REUTERS

People in Aztec warriors costumes dance in front of the Pyramid of Kukulkan at Chichen Itza in Yucatan state, on Dec 20, 2012. As pockets of anxiety crop up ahead of the day billed as the Maya apocalypse, a motley crew of New Age thrill-seekers, mystics and tourists have gathered at ancient holy sites in Mexico hoping to witness the birth of a new era. -- PHOTO : REUTERS

Members of a folkloric group perform during celebrations marking the end of the Mayan age, on Dec 20, 2012 at the Tikal archaeological site, Peten departament, 560km north of Guatemala City. Ceremonies are being held to celebrate the end of the Mayan cycle known as Bak'tun 13 and the start of the new Maya Era on Dec 21. -- PHOTO : AFP

A performer in costume takes part in a Mayan Culture Festival to commemorate the 13th bak'tun, an epoch lasting roughly 400 years, in downtown Copan on Dec 20, 2012. On Dec 21, an era closes in the Maya Long Count calendar, an event that has been likened by different groups to the end of days, the start of a new, more spiritual age or a good reason to hang out at old Maya temples across Mexico and Central America. -- PHOTO : REUTERS

Guatemalan President Otto Perez Molina waves during celebrations marking the end of the Mayan age at the Tikal archaeological site, Peten departament, 560km north of Guatemala City, on Dec 20, 2012. Ceremonies will be held here to celebrate the end of the Mayan cycle known as Bak'tun 13 and the start of the new Maya Era on Dec 21. -- PHOTO : AFP

Local indigenous Mayan actors perform during the 'Sacred Moments in the Life of the Maya' play in the municipality of Valladolid, in the Mexican state of Yucatan on Dec 20, 2012. At sunrise on Friday, an era closes in the Maya Long Count calendar, an event that has been likened by different groups to the end of days, the start of a new, more spiritual age. The play is part of the celebrations of the Maya Long Count calendar, local media reported. -- PHOTO : REUTERS

A folkloric group performs during celebrations marking the end of the Mayan age, on Dec 20, 2012 at the Tikal archaeological site, Peten departament, 560km north of Guatemala City. Ceremonies are being held to celebrate the end of the Mayan cycle known as Bak'tun 13 and the start of the new Maya Era on Dec 21. -- PHOTO : AFP

People wait for the beginning of the celebrations marking the end of the Mayan age, on Dec 20, 2012 at the Tikal archaeological site, Peten departament, 560km north of Guatemala City. Ceremonies are being held to celebrate the end of the Mayan cycle known as Bak'tun 13 and the start of the new Maya Era on Dec 21. -- PHOTO : AFP 

People stand around a sacred fire during the pre-Hispanic mass of "Segunda Conexion", (Second Connection) to commemorate the 13th bak'tun, an epoch lasting roughly 400 years, outside the Chi Ixim church in Tactic, Alta Verapaz region, Dec 20, 2012. This week, at sunrise on Friday, Dec 21, an era closes in the Maya Long Count calendar, an event that has been likened by different groups to the end of days, the start of a new, more spiritual age or a good reason to hang out at old Maya temples across Mexico and Central America. The Chi Ixim church is a sacred Mayan site.  Picture taken with long exposure. -- PHOTO : REUTERS

A woman is "cleansed" with candles next to a sacred fire during the pre-Hispanic mass of "Segunda Conexion" (Second Connection) to commemorate the 13th bak'tun, an epoch lasting roughly 400 years, outside the Chi Ixim church in Tactic, Alta Verapaz region, on Dec 20, 2012. On Dec 21, an era closes in the Maya Long Count calendar, an event that has been likened by different groups to the end of days, the start of a new, more spiritual age or a good reason to hang out at old Maya temples across Mexico and Central America. The Chi Ixim church is a sacred Mayan site. -- PHOTO : REUTERS

A Peruvian shaman performs a ritual at a beach to prevent the end of the world, in Lima on Dec 20, 2012. Shamans performed several rituals to calm believers and ward off the end of the world predictions. At sunrise on Friday, an era closes in the Maya Long Count calendar, an event that has been likened by different groups to the end of days, the start of a new, more spiritual age. -- PHOTO : REUTERS

Women place socks on a child before the pre-Hispanic mass of "Segunda Conexion" (Second Connection) to commemorate the 13th bak'tun, an epoch lasting roughly 400 years, outside the Chi Ixim church in Tactic, Alta Verapaz region, on Dec 20, 2012. This week, at sunrise on Friday, Dec 21, an era closes in the Maya Long Count calendar, an event that has been likened by different groups to the end of days, the start of a new, more spiritual age or a good reason to hang out at old Maya temples across Mexico and Central America. The Chi Ixim church is a sacred Mayan site. -- PHOTO : REUTERS

Peruvian shamans performed a ritual at a beach to prevent the end of the world, in Lima on Dec 20, 2012. Shamans performed several rituals to calm believers and ward off the end of the world predictions. At sunrise on Friday, an era closes in the Maya Long Count calendar, an event that has been likened by different groups to the end of days, the start of a new, more spiritual age. -- PHOTO : REUTERS

Members of a folkloric group perform during celebrations marking the end of the Mayan age, Dec 20, 2012 at the Tikal archaeological site, Peten departament, 560km north of Guatemala City. Ceremonies are being held to celebrate the end of the Mayan cycle known as Bak'tun 13 and the start of the new Maya Era on December 21. --PHOTO: AFP

Mayan priest Carlos Tun blows a conch shell horn during the pre-Hispanic mass of "Segunda Conexion" (Second Connection) to commemorate the 13th bak'tun, an epoch lasting roughly 400 years, outside the Chi Ixim church in Tactic, Alta Verapaz region, on Dec 20, 2012. On Dec 21, an era closes in the Maya Long Count calendar, an event that has been likened by different groups to the end of days, the start of a new, more spiritual age or a good reason to hang out at old Maya temples across Mexico and Central America. The Chi Ixim church is a sacred Mayan site. -- PHOTO : REUTERS

A woman burns candles in the sacred fire during the pre-Hispanic mass of "Segunda Conexion" (Second Connection) to commemorate the 13th bak'tun, an epoch lasting roughly 400 years, outside the Chi Ixim church in Tactic, Alta Verapaz region, on Dec 20, 2012. On Dec 21, an era closes in the Maya Long Count calendar, an event that has been likened by different groups to the end of days, the start of a new, more spiritual age or a good reason to hang out at old Maya temples across Mexico and Central America. The Chi Ixim church is a sacred Mayan site. -- PHOTO : REUTERS

Peruvian shamans perform a ritual at a beach to prevent the end of the world, in Lima on Dec 20, 2012. Shamans performed several rituals to calm believers and ward off the end of the world predictions. At sunrise on Friday, an era closes in the Maya Long Count calendar, an event that has been likened by different groups to the end of days, the start of a new, more spiritual age. -- PHOTO : REUTERS

View of the last sunset at the end of a 5200-year era in the Mayan Calendar in the Tikal archaeological site in Peten departament 560 km north of Guatemala city on Dec 20, 2012. Ceremonies will be held here to celebrate the end of the Mayan cycle known as Bak'tun 13 and the start of the new Maya Era on Dec 21. -- PHOTO : AFP

A journalist speaks in front of a TV camera in Chichen Itza, Mexico, on Thursday, Dec 20, 2012. Amid a worldwide frenzy of advertisers and new-agers preparing for a Maya apocalypse, one group is approaching Dec 21 with calm and equanimity, the people whose ancestors supposedly made the prediction in the first place. -- PHOTO : AP

Members of indigenous organisations protest before the activities celebrating the end of a 5200-year era in the Mayan Calendar, saying they feel excluded from society, in the Tikal archaeological site in Peten departament 560 km north of Guatemala city on Dec 20, 2012. Ceremonies will be held here to celebrate the end of the Mayan cycle known as Bak'tun 13 and the start of the new Maya Era on Dec 21. -- PHOTO : AFP

Mounted French gendarmes patrol the streets in Bugarach, on Dec 20, 2012. The Peak of Bugarach, the highest point of the Corbieres massif, in south-western France and surrounded in legend for centuries, has become a focal point for many Apocalypse believers as rumours have circulated that its mountain contains doors into other worlds, or that extraterrestrials will return here on Judgment day to take refuge at their base. Residents of the tiny southern French hamlet, are witness to a rising influx of Doomsday believers convinced it is the only place that will survive judgment day, Dec 21, 2012, as an era closes in the Maya Long Count calendar. -- PHOTO : REUTERS

A member of a folklore group places a Mayan mask on his head in the Tikal archaeological site in Peten departament 560km north of Guatemala city on Dec 20, 2012. Ceremonies will be held here to celebrate the end of the Mayan cycle known as Bak'tun 13 and the start of the new Maya Era on Dec 21. -- PHOTO : AFP

Oversized photographic prints are displayed in a meadow under the Peak of Bugarach, Dec 20, 2012. The Peak of Bugarach, the highest point of the Corbieres massif, in south-western France and surrounded in legend for centuries, has become a focal point for many Apocalypse believers as rumours have circulated that its mountain contains doors into other worlds, or that extraterrestrials will return here on Judgment day to take refuge at their base. Residents of the tiny southern French hamlet, are witness to a rising influx of Doomsday believers convinced it is the only place that will survive judgment day, Dec 21, 2012, as an era closes in the Maya Long Count calendar. -- PHOTO : REUTERS

General view of Sirince, a small Turkish village on Dec 20, 2012. Thousands of foreign and local tourists are expected to flock to Sirince, near the ancient Greek city Ephesus ruins, which is believed to be one of the few places on earth that will survive Dec 21, a day in an old Maya calendar dubbed "the end of the world". -- PHOTO : REUTERS

A shaman takes part in a traditional spiritual ceremony among the ruins at the archaeological site of the Maya civilization of Copan on Dec 20, 2012. This week, at sunrise on Friday, Dec 21, an era closes in the Maya Long Count calendar, an event that has been likened by different groups to the end of days, the start of a new, more spiritual age or a good reason to hang out at old Maya temples across Mexico and Central America. -- PHOTO : REUTERS

A laborer works on the construction of a house shaped like a spaceship and is designed by Mr Augusto Vinholis, a naturopathic practitioner, outside the city of Alto Paraiso de Goias, central Brazil, on Dec 20, 2012. Mr Vinholis believes his house will protect him and his family from what they believe will be the end of the world on Dec 21, which is also the last day of the Maya Long Calendar. Alto Paraiso de Goias is considered a mystical city and has attracted many tourists, which according to local media, feel safe spending the fateful day there. -- PHOTO : REUTERS

An alien figure in a spaceship is seen in front of a hotel in the city of Alto Paraiso de Goias, central Brazil, on Dec 20, 2012. Some residents believe that Dec 21, which is the last day of the Maya Long Calendar, will mark the end of the world. Alto Paraiso de Goias is considered a mystical city and has attracted many tourists, which according to local media, feel safe spending the fateful day there. -- PHOTO : REUTERS

Guatemalan Maya natives kneel in front of a temple at Tikal archaeological site in Peten departament 560km north of Guatemala city on Dec 20, 2012. Ceremonies will be held here to celebrate the end of the Mayan cycle known as Bak'tun 13 and the start of the new Maya Era on Dec 21. -- PHOTO: AFP / TOPSHOTS

A man dressed as a Mayan warrior delivers a life certificate for one million dollars, to be paid in case the world comes to an end to an unidentified couple, as they pose for a photo at the Xcaret theme park in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, on Saturday, Dec 15, 2012. Amid a worldwide frenzy of advertisers and new-agers preparing for a Maya apocalypse, one group is approaching Dec 21 with calm and equanimity calm: the people whose ancestors supposedly made the prediction in the first place.  -- PHOTO: AP 

In this Friday, Dec 15, 2012 photo, a tourist takes pictures of a Mayan ball court at the archeological site of Coba, Mexico. Amid a worldwide frenzy of advertisers and new-agers preparing for a Maya apocalypse, one group is approaching Dec 21 with calm and equanimity - the people whose ancestors supposedly made the prediction in the first place. -- PHOTO: AP

This Dec 14, 2012 photo shows a detail of a replica of the Sixth Monument, which mentions the 13th Baktun, the end of a major 5,125-year cycle in the Mayan Long Count calendar, on display at the Mayan Museum in Cancun. Amid a worldwide frenzy of advertisers and new-agers preparing for a Maya apocalypse, one group is approaching Dec 21 with calm and equanimity calm - the people whose ancestors supposedly made the prediction in the first place. Mexico's 800,000 Mayas are not the sinister, secretive, apocalypse-obsessed race they've been made out to be. -- PHOTO: AP

Members of a folkloric group perform during celebrations marking the end of the Mayan age, Dec 20, 2012 at the Tikal archaeological site, Peten departament, 560km north of Guatemala City. Ceremonies are being held to celebrate the end of the Mayan cycle known as Bak'tun 13 and the start of the new Maya Era on Dec 21. -- PHOTO: AFP

Members of a folkloric group perform during celebrations marking the end of the Mayan age, Dec 20, 2012 at the Tikal archaeological site, Peten departament, 560km north of Guatemala City. Ceremonies are being held to celebrate the end of the Mayan cycle known as Bak'tun 13 and the start of the new Maya Era on Dec 21.  -- PHOTO: AFP

Costa Rica's President Laura Chinchilla (left) takes photos with her mobile phone a day before the Oxlajuj Baktun celebration at the Tikal Mayan ruins in Peten on Dec 20, 2012. This week, at sunrise on Friday, Dec 21, an era closes in the Maya Long Count calendar, an event that has been likened by different groups to the end of days, the start of a new, more spiritual age or a good reason to hang out at old Maya temples across Mexico and Central America. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

Members of a folkloric group perform during celebrations marking the end of the Mayan age, December 20, 2012 at the Tikal archaeological site, Peten departament, 560 kms north of Guatemala City. Ceremonies are being held to celebrate the end of the Mayan cycle known as Bak'tun 13 and the start of the new Maya Era on December 21. --PHOTO: AFP

 folkloric group performs during celebrations marking the end of the Mayan age, Dec 20, 2012 at the Tikal archaeological site, Peten departament, 560km north of Guatemala City. Ceremonies are being held to celebrate the end of the Mayan cycle known as Bak'tun 13 and the start of the new Maya Era on Dec 21. -- PHOTO: AFP

Performers in costumes take part in a Mayan Culture Festival to commemorate the 13th bak'tun, an epoch lasting roughly 400 years, in downtown Copan Dec 20, 2012. On Dec 21, an era closes in the Maya Long Count calendar, an event that has been likened by different groups to the end of days, the start of a new, more spiritual age or a good reason to hang out at old Maya temples across Mexico and Central America. --PHOTO: REUTERS