March
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March is the third month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of seven Gregorian months with the length of 31 days. See also Months in various calendars
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 Mars, the Roman god of war. March is a the first month of spring!
March was originally the first month of the Roman calendar before the winter months of January and February were added about 700 BC by King Numa Pompilius. It ceased to be the first month of the calendar year (the year when displayed as twelve months) about 450 BC during the time of the decemvirs, when January assumed that position. Roman consuls entered office in March between 222 BC and 153 BC, hence Roman events dated via the consular year began in March during that period. The numbered year began on March 1 in Russia until the end of the fifteenth century. Great Britain and her colonies continued to use March 25 until 1752, the same year they finally adopted the Gregorian calendar.
In Finnish, the month is called maaliskuu, which originates from maallinen kuu meaning earthy month. This is because in maaliskuu earth started to show from under the snow. 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).
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[edit] Events in March
- Mardi Gras (February 3 to March 9 in non-leap years or February 4 to March 9 in leap years)
- Ash Wednesday (some Wednesday between February 4 to March 10)
- Saint David's Day (March 1)
- National Reading Day (United States) (March 2)
- Pi Day (March 14)
- Saint Patrick's Day (March 17)
- 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 19 March to 21 March (in UTC).
- Norouz: New Year's Day in Iran and several other countries. A holiday in Turkey, Japan, and Central Asian countries as well.
- Good Friday (some Friday between March 20 to April 23, being the last Friday before Easter)
- Easter (some Sunday between March 22 to April 25)
- Women's History Month (United States)
- American Red Cross Month
- The wearing of a Martenitsa in Bulgaria and Mărţişor in Romania (March 1)
- Fire Prevention month (The Philippines)
- Pakistan Day - March 23.
- International Women's Day - March 8
[edit] Trivia
- March in the Northern Hemisphere is the seasonal equivalent to September in the Southern Hemisphere
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
