March

This article is about the month. For other uses, see March (disambiguation).

March (listen)^ⓘ is in present time held to be the third month of the year in both the Julian and Gregorian calendars. It is one of the seven months which are 31 days long.

March in the Northern Hemisphere is the seasonal equivalent of September in the Southern Hemisphere. In the Northern hemisphere, the beginning of the meteorological spring is 1 March. In the Southern hemisphere, the beginning of the meteorological autumn is 1 March.

The name of March comes from ancient Rome, when March was the first month of the year and named Martius after Mars or Ares, the Greek god of war. In Rome, where the climate is Mediterranean, March was the first month of spring, a logical point for the beginning of the year as well as the start of the military campaign season. January became the first month of the calendar year either under King Numa Pompilius (c. 713 BC) or under the Decemvirs about 450 BC (Roman writers differ). The numbered year began on March 1 in Russia until the end of the 15th century. Great Britain and its colonies continued to use March 25 until 1752, which was when they ultimately adopted the Gregorian calendar. Many other cultures and religions still celebrate the beginning of the New Year in March.

In Finnish, the month is called maaliskuu, which originates from maallinen kuu, meaning earthy month, because during maaliskuu, earth finally becomes visible under the snow. In Ukrainian, the month is called березень, meaning birch tree. Historical names for March include the Saxon Lentmonat, named after the equinox and gradual lengthening of days, and the eventual namesake of Lent. Saxons also called March Rhed-monat or Hreth-monath (deriving from their goddess Rhedam/Hreth), and Angles called it Hyld-monath. The Turkish word Mart is given after the name of Mars the god.

March starts on the same day of the week as November every year and February in common years only. March ends on the same day of the week as June every year.

Events in March

March, from the Très riches heures du duc de Berry

Easter eggs. Easter is usually celebrated in March or in April.

• American Dietetic Association National Nutrition Month (United States)
• American Red Cross Month
• Colorectal Cancer awareness month
• Fire Prevention Month (The Philippines)
• Women's History Month (United States)
• Mărţişor in Romania and Moldavia, and Martenitsa in Bulgaria, March 1
• The anniversary of the Independence Movement of March 1 (Korea)
• Saint David's Day, (Welsh Holiday) March 1
• National Reading Day (United States), March 2
• Texas Independence Day, March 2: State holiday in Texas, United States
• The Nineteen Day Fast, part of the Bahá'í Faith, March 2 through March 20
• Mardi Gras (February 3 to March 9 in regular years, February 4 to March 9 in leap years)
• Ash Wednesday (February 4 to March 10 in regular years, February 5 to March 10 in leap years)
• World Maths Day, the first Wednesday in March
• International Women's Day, March 8
• Pluto Planet Day (New Mexico), March 13 (discussed here)
• White Day (Asia), March 14
• Pi Day, March 14
• Dinky's cock takes serious punishment, All month long
• Save a Spider Day, March 14
• National Multiple Sclerosis Society Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week March 14 to March 20 (United States)
• The Ides of March, the anniversary of the assassination of Julius Caesar by Brutus, Cassius, Casca and others (March 15)
• Anniversary of the 1848 Hungarian Revolution, March 15
• Saint Patrick's Day, March 17
• Sun-Earth Day, March 18
• Saint Joseph's Day, March 19
• The equinox, named the vernal or spring equinox in the northern hemisphere and the autumnal equinox in the southern hemisphere, occurs on dates varying from March 19 to March 21 (in UTC)
• Equinox Earth Day (UNO), in the northern hemisphere, occurs on dates varying from March 19 to March 21
• Nowruz: New Year's Day in Iran and several other countries; also a holiday in Turkey and Central Asian countries as well, celebrated on the day of the equinox
• Good Friday, a Friday between March 20 and April 23, being the last Friday before Easter
• Human Rights' Day (South Africa), March 21
• Easter, the first Sunday after the first full moon on or after March 21, usually, but not always, occurring in April.
• World Water Day, March 22
• World Meteorological Organization
• Pakistan Day, March 23
• Day of Polish-Hungarian Friendship, March 23
• Annunciation, March 25
• Celebration of the Greek War of Independence, March 25, 1821
• Last day of the Japanese fiscal year and school year, March 31. Hanami, the Japanese custom of enjoying the beauty of flowers, starts around this time.
• Prince Kūhiō Day, March 26: state holiday in the State of Hawaii, United States
• Bangladeshi Independence Day, March 26, 1971.
• Men's NCAA Basketball Tournament
• Spring Training for Major League Baseball
• Part of the Year of the Solar System:
  • March 2011: Ancient Astronomers/Modern Tools: Celebrating Sun-Earth Day
  • March 2012: Shadows of the Sun
• World Kidney Day, on the second Thursday
• Summer Day in Albania, on March 14.

March symbols

The Daffodil, the floral emblem of March

• March's birthstones are aquamarine and bloodstone. These stones mean courage.
• Its birth flower is the Daffodil.

External links

• Astronomy Answers article on the seasons

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