March


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

March in the Southern Hemisphere is the seasonal equivalent of September in the Northern Hemisphere.

The name of March comes from ancient Rome, when March was the first month of the year and called Martius after Mars, the Roman god of war. In Rome, where the climate is Mediterranean, March is the first month of spring, a logical point for the beginning of the year as well as the start of the military campaign season. 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. 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. This is because in maaliskuu earth started to show from under the snow. Historical names for March include Saxon: Lenctmonat, named for the equinox and eventual lengthening of days and the eventual namesake of Lent. Saxons also called March Rhed-monat or Hreth-monath (for their goddess Rhedam/Hreth), and Angles called it Hyld-monath

Events in March

March, from the Très riches heures du duc de Berry
March, from the Très riches heures du duc de Berry
Easter eggs. Easter is usually celebrated in March or in April
Easter eggs. Easter is usually celebrated in March or in April

Miscellaneous

  • March begins on the same day of the week as November in all years (i.e. March 1 = November 1) and February in common years.
  • From March onwards, every five months will be exactly the same as the day before the day that begins the month five months ago. Thus, March 1 = August 2, April 1 = September 2, May 1 = October 2, etc. This is due to the fact that from March onwards, every five months equal exactly 153 days, which is one day shy of being divisible by seven.
  • March's birthstone is Aquamarine.[citation needed]
  • March's birth flower is the Daffodil.[citation needed]
  • March is said to "come in like a lion, out like a lamb." Some variants of the proverb reverse the "lamb/lion" ordering.[citation needed]

External links

Look up March in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
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