March (month) - Definition and Overview

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 in Pisces and ends in Aries.

In the wheel of the year March spans the spring equinox in the northern hemisphere and it has a corresponding position with respect to the autumn equinox in the southern hemisphere. These equinoxes coincide on or about March 21.

Contents

History

Mars is named for Mars, the Roman god of war.

In ancient Rome, March was called Martius. It was named after the war god (Mars) and was considered a lucky time to begin a war. In ancient Hellenic civilization, March was called Anthesterion.

March was originally the first month of the Roman calendar. 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 to Gregorian calendar.

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).

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 & recognize all individuals who struggled to end tyranny & oppression. See http://www.harriettubman.com/ AND http://www.state.ny.us/governor/press/year03/aug27_6_03.htm
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 Playstation Portable is released in Europe and North America.
March 19 is Saint Joseph's Day
One of the year's two equinoxes (called the vernal or spring equinox in the Northern Hemisphere and the autumnal equinox in the Southern Hemisphere) occurs on or around March 21.
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

In March the Sun passes through zodiac constellations Aquarius and Pisces.
March begins on the same day of the week as November in all years and as February on regular years.
The signs of the zodiac within the month of March are Pisces and Aries.
March's flower is the violet.
March's birthstone is the aquamarine.