Today's date, 12/12/12

Welcome to December 12, 2012, which is either lucky or the end of the world as we know it.

Today's date, 12/12/12, is considered auspicious by some, doomed by others, and just plain easy to remember by many.

The number certainly holds significance in human existence through the millennia, a fact of which there is indisputable evidence:

Apart from there being 12 hours of day and night, and 12 months in the year in the Roman calendar, there 12 signs of the Zodiac, 12 Apostles, 12 days of Christmas, 12 tribes of Israel, 12 gods of Olympus, 12 old testament prophets... you get the idea.

Some say the day symbolizes love, others completeness or fulfillment.

Here are some ways the day is celebrated, dreaded or otherwise acknowledged.

Wedding bells

A much-cited survey conducted by US-based David’s Bridal estimated that around 7,500 brides would be getting hitched in America today — a 1,446 percent increase from 12/12/11.

The New York Times wrote that many couples considered it lucky to get married on repetitive dates, with 07-07-07, 10-10-10 and 11-11-11 each breaking Las Vegas records.

Unsurprisingly, many of those interviewed about their wedding plans by media outlets said it was an easy date to remember, thus lowering the risk that one member of the couple will forget anniversaries.

Regardless, according to USA Today, several states were preparing for a rush on marriages. 

For example, a county clerk's office in Los Angeles was expanding hours to allow people to apply online for licenses ahead of time; while in Seattle, many same-sex couples opted to say "I do" on 12-12-12 instead of 12-9-12, the first chance they were legally allowed to be married.

Doomsday diehards

However, many doomsdayers believe the date 12/12/12 heralds the end of the world, mainly owing to an interpretation of the Mayan calendar.

More pedantic believers in the end-of-the-world, meantime, are convinced that the actual doomsday is on 12/21/12, when the Mayan calendar is set to end.