12/12/12: At 12:12, I'm going to make the most epic wish ever.

If for no other reason than it's an easy date to remember, today is a great day to get married or have a baby, or if you're lucky enough, to celebrate a birthday, especially a twelfth birthday.

The number twelve holds a special type of magic for many people--from Christianity's Twelve Apostles, to Judaism's Twelve Tribes of Israel, to the ancient Greek pantheon's Twelve Olympians to Mohammed's Twelve Imams, .not to mention the twelve signs of both Western and Chinese zodiac.

Even "The Dirty Dozen" know that "12 Monkeys" come "Cheaper by the Dozen." Reginald Rose wrote about "12 Angry Men," William Shakespeare wrote "Twelfth Night," and "Battlestar Galactica" featured the Twelve Colonies of Kobol.

Twelve people have walked on the surface of the Moon. King Arthur's Round Table had 12 knights, plus Arthur. Alcoholics Anonymous boasts a 12-Step Program. Most people have 12 pairs of ribs. There are 12 ounces in a troy pound, 12 inches in a foot, 12 months in a year, 12 hours on a clock face, 12 strikes in a perfect bowling game, 12 people on a jury, and 12 face cards in a deck of playing cards. 

And let us not forget the Twelve Days of Christmas!

If you happened to be up late last night, say at 1:21:02 am, you may have celebrated the palindromic date/time: 2012.12.12.1:21:02 = 201212-1-212102. If you missed it, you'll get a chance at a sixer this afternoon at 12:12:12 (12.12.12.12:12:12). And at that time, there will 12 days until Christmas.

In Chinese numerology, the number 1 represents yang, while the number 2 represents yin: put them together and you get harmony.

Whether you're superstitious or not, you can still celebrate this once-in-a-century event in style. If you're near the NYC area, you could attend the Bruce Springsteen et al. concert to benefit the victims of Hurricane Sandy. In Auckland, New Zealand, they'll be meditating for world peace. Fort Myers, Florida, is hosting a mass wedding, set to climax at 12:12.

Of course, if you're a die-hard fan of the number 12, you know that the real celebration will be in 2016 (counting in base 12, decimal year 2016 is dozenal year 1200). 

And if you missed all the fun this year, you can try again on 11.12.13.

As for me, I'm celebrating today with a crossword puzzle, of course: "12/12/12"

12/12/12: At 12:12:12, I'm going to make the most epic wish ever.

• Click here to solve interactively.
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• Click here for a list of clues.
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