Monthly Facts: March
Here is a list of some little-known holidays in March.
March 31, 2019669 Views
March, the beginning of spring. Everyone may say that March is long and uneventful, but within this stressful, break-free, month that has the SAT as its main scholastic feature, there some interesting holidays and history within it. Here are some interesting facts about March that you might not have known.
March is the 3rd month in the Gregorian and Julian calendars. It is one of 7 months in the year to have 31 days. The beginning of spring occurs in the Northern Hemisphere in March while autumn starts in the Southern Hemisphere. The spring equinox will occur on the 20th this year.
The name March derives from Martius, the first month in the Roman calendar. It is named after the Roman god of war, Mars. The month was dedicated to honoring Mars and many festivals were held in his honor. Martius was the “month of war”. Other festivals were mirrored in October. Many cultures celebrate the new year in March.
Some other names for March are Maaliskuu or Maallinen Kuu, which is Finnish for how earth becomes visible from snowmelt. In Ukrainian, the name translates to “birch tree”. Some historical names are Lentmonat which is Saxon and is named after the lengthening of days and the spring equinox. Lent was eventually named after this. Some other Saxon names are Rhed-Monat or Hreth-Monath which are named after the goddess Rhedam/Hreth. An Anglo name is Hlyd-Monath. The Slovenes call March “the month of birches”.
Some symbols of March are the daffodil, which is the birth flower and the aquamarine and bloodstone, which are the birthstones. The Zodiac signs are Pisces (1st-20th) and Aries (21st-31st).
The most iconic holiday in March is St. Patrick’s Day. This Irish holiday commemorates St. Patrick, the arrival of Christianity in Ireland, and the Irish heritage and culture. Green and shamrocks are worn during festivals and parades. The alcohol restrictions of Lent are lifted during this holiday. St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated in countries that have Irish diaspora like the US, UK, New Zealand, and many others. In Ireland, public festivals and parades are held. St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated in more countries than any other public festival. Unfortunately, St. Patrick’s Day is often criticized for being too commercialized and because it fosters negative stereotypes of the Irish. In Irish mythology, the shamrock represents the Holy Trinity.
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