March

For alternative meanings, see March (disambiguation).

March is the third month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of seven Gregorian months with the length of 31 days.

• March begins (astrologically, non-sidereal) with the sun in the sign of Pisces and ends in the sign of Aries. Astronomically speaking, the sun begins in the constellation of Aquarius and ends in the constellation of Pisces.

• In ancient Rome, March was called Martius, so named after the Roman god of war and was considered a lucky time to begin a war.

March was originally the first month of the Roman calendar because the winter months of january and february were unsuited for warfare, the essence of any Italic state. Julius Caesar's calendar reform in 45 BCE began the year on January 1. The tradition of starting the year in March continued in some countries for a long time. January 1 was only instituted as New Year's Day in France in 1564. Great Britain and her colonies continued to use March 25 until 1752, the same year they finally adopted the Gregorian calendar.

• In ancient Hellenic civilization, March was called Anthesterion. In old Japanese calendar, the month is called Yayoi (弥生). In Finnish, the month is called maaliskuu, of obscure origin.

Historical names for March include the Saxon term Lenctmonat, named for the equinox and eventual lengthening of days and the eventual namesake of Lent. The Saxons also called March Rhed-monat (for their goddess Rhedam); ancient Britons called it hyld-monath (meaning loud or stormy).

• Names for march in some other modern languages, etymologically equivalent :
  • dutch maart
  • french mars
  • German Marz

Events in March

• On the first Sunday of March the Vasaloppet cross country ski race takes place in Sweden in honour of Gustav Vasa's run in 1520.
• March 10 is Harriet Tubman Day. Harriet Tubman Day, March 10, is dedicated to those who are willing to be of service to humanity and recognize all individuals who struggled to end tyranny and oppression. See [1] and [2].
• March 17 is St. Patrick's Day, one of the public holidays in the Republic of Ireland. In the Irish Calendar the month is called Márta and is the middle month of Spring.
• March 18 The Australian International Air Show. Largest and most comprehensive ever staged in the Southern Hemisphere. Visitors will be thrilled by the roar of high-octane attack helicopters and the zoom of vintage warbirds. Highlights include the Boeing Night Alight Finale.
• March 19 is Saint Joseph's Day.
• The equinox named the vernal or spring equinox in the northern hemisphere and the autumnal equinox in the southern hemisphere occurs on or around March 21. In the pagan wheel of the year the spring equinox is the time of Ostara and the autumn equinox is that of Mabon.
• March 25 is one of the Irish Quarter days (no longer generally observed).
• March 25 is Mother's Day in the United Kingdom.
• March 25 - Lady Day or the Feast of the Annunciation.
• In Western Christianity, Easter occurs on a Sunday between March 22 and April 25, inclusive.

Trivia

• March begins on the same day of the week as November in all years and on the same day as February in regular years (one day later in bissextile - = leap years).
• March's flower is the violet.
• March's birthstone is the aquamarine.

See also

• Historical anniversaries