Gallery: Run, it's the end of the world

Peruvian shamans perform a ritual at a beach to prevent the end of the world, in Lima. Shamans performed several rituals to calm believers and ward off the end of the world predictions. Photo: Reuters

Peruvian shamans perform a ritual at a beach to prevent the end of the world, in Lima. Shamans performed several rituals to calm believers and ward off the end of the world predictions. Photo: Reuters

Peruvian shamans perform a ritual at a beach to prevent the end of the world, in Lima. Photo: Reuters

"Preacher Willie," played by Clark Reed, gets the congregation up for the end of the world in the "Salvation Tent" at Richard Garriott de Cayeux's "End of the World Soiree" dress rehearsal in Austin, Texas.

An indigenous woman carries flowers at the Iximche archeological site in preparation for the Oxlajuj B'aktun in Tecpan, Guatemala. Photo: AP

A man prays and participates in the pre-Hispanic mass of "Primera Conexion" and "Sincronizacion Espiritual" (First Connection and Spiritual Synchronization), to commemorate the 13th Baktun, outside the Chi Ixim church in Tactic, Alta Verapaz region. Photo: Reuters

Students dressed in graduation gowns pose in front of a mock Mayan temple moments before the countdown time when many believe the Mayan people predicted the end of the world, Friday, Dec. 21, 2012, in Taichung, southern Taiwan. (AP Photo/Wally Santana)

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. Photo: Reuters

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. Photo: Reuters

A Mayan dancer performs at the Xcaret Eco Theme Park on the outskirts of Playa del Carmen, Mexico. Photo: Reuters

Mayan gather in front of the Kukulkan Pyramid in Chichen Itza, Mexico. Photo: AP

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. Photo: Reuters

A performer in costume takes part in a Mayan Culture Festival to commemorate the 13th bak'tun, an epoch lasting roughly 400 years. Photo: Reuters

Hugh Vail cuts firewood at his home in Bountiful, Utah. While most "preppers" discount the Mayan calendar prophecy, many are preparing to be self-sufficient for threats like nuclear war, natural disaster, famine and economic collapse. Photo: Reuters

People build restaurant signs in the Serbian mountain of Rtanj, some 200km southeast from capital Belgrade. Rtanj is selling itself as the best place to survive the looming apocalypse - which will fall on December 21. Photo: Reuters

People pray and dance 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. Photo: Reuters

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. Photo: Reuters

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. Photo: Reuters

Aborigines "Kekchi", from Coban, gather as they protest a day before the Oxlajuj Baktun celebration at the Tikal Mayan ruins in Peten. Photo: Reuters

People gather in front of the Kukulkan Pyramid in Chichen Itza, Mexico. Photo: AP