Dawn of the Final Day is an internet meme used online to express anticipation often dramatic or humorous about a specific date or event that is about to arrive. The phrase itself comes from a video game and became widely shared in meme culture during the early 2010s.
Table of Contents
Origin
The phrase originated from The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask, a popular action adventure game released for the Nintendo 64 in 2000. In the game, the player has exactly three in-game days (72 hours) to complete objectives before the moon collides with the world of Termina.
Every 24 hours the player receives a message indicating how much time remains. When there are only 24 hours left, a notification appears on screen reading:
“Dawn of the Final Day — 24 Hours Remain.”
This in-game text, originally used to build intensity in gameplay, became the basis for the meme.
| Info | Details |
|---|---|
| Meme Name | Dawn of the Final Day |
| Origin Phrase | “Dawn of The Final Day — 24 Hours Remain” |
| Video Game Source | The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask |
| Game Release | 2000 (Nintendo 64) |
| Meaning | Used to signal anticipation for an upcoming event |
| First Meme Use | 2010 internet posts and videos |
| Notable Spread Platforms | Reddit, YouTube, Yahoo Answers |
| Common Formats | Text images, repurposed images, countdown formats |
| Cultural Context | Gaming and meme culture adaptation |
Spread and Internet Culture
Around 2010, internet users began repurposing the phrase and images from the game as countdown memes to signal that a significant event was imminent.
Also Read: I’m Nothing Like Y’all Fish Meme Explained
Notable early uses include:
October 8, 2010: A video uploaded by YouTuber McCrackerTheCracker featuring the “Dawn of the Final Day” screen.
May 18, 2011: A Yahoo Answers question used the concept to reference Harold Camping’s widely publicized 2011 rapture prediction.
September 22, 2012: A Reddit post on the /r/zelda subreddit with a Moon image from Majora’s Mask titled “Dawn of the Final Day,” gaining over 1,000 upvotes.
Meme Usage Today
Today, the meme usually appears as:
- A simple text image (white text on black) saying “Dawn of the Final Day.”
- A repurposed image with event-specific captions
- A countdown format (e.g., Hours Left) for upcoming dates
It remains part of gaming and meme culture due to the iconic status of Majora’s Mask and the inherently dramatic tone of the phrase.
The meme started appearing online around 2010 and gained traction on platforms like Reddit, YouTube, and gaming forums as users began adapting the phrase for countdown jokes and event anticipation.
In Majora’s Mask, the phrase appears when only 24 in-game hours remain before disaster strikes. Because of this, the phrase naturally became associated with real-world countdowns and deadline humor.
