The December 21st, 2012 meme centers on the global fascination with the end of the Mayan Long Count calendar, which many believed predicted a world-ending event. When the day passed peacefully, the event transitioned from a source of genuine concern to a legendary internet joke. Today, these memes often explore themes of existentialism, with users jokingly claiming the world actually ended then or reminiscing about the specific 'vibe' of 2012 pop culture. The template is frequently used to mock failed doomsday predictions or to contrast the relatively simpler problems of the past with the chaos of the present day.