ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

2012 phenomenon

The 2012 phenomenon was a collection of beliefs that a major event was going to happen in the year 2012. Some people believed that anything from an asteroid hitting the Earth to a giant global earthquake would happen. Other people believed that it would be the end of the world. In reality, the year 2012 passed just like any other year, with no major events or catastrophes happening.