History of March

posted in: Months of the Year | 0

The name March drives from the Roman word Martius.  Martius is from the Roman god of war, Mars, who is also considered to be the ancestor of the Roman people.

Martius was the beginning of the season of warfare for the Romans and festivals were held in honor of Mars to celebrate these festivities.  These celebrations mirrored the ending of these activities in October.

On the Roman calendar, Martius was the first month and various celebrations occurred in the first half of the month to celebrate the new year.

Daffodil

Russia also used March 1st to begin their year until the end of the 15h Century.

Great Britain and her colonies adopted the Gregorian calendar in 1752, which replaced he Julian calendar.

March is the first month of spring for those countries and continents in the Northern Hemisphere, which include North America, Europe, parts of Africa and Asia.

March is the first month of fall in the Southern Hemisphere, which includes South America, Oceania and parts of Africa.

Aquamire

The birthstones for March are aquamarine and bloodstone, which symbolize courage.

The birth flower for March is the daffodil.

Pisces were born on March 20th or before and Aries on March 21st and afterwards.

Bloodstone

St. Patrick’s Day is the best-known holiday for the month.

Easter can occur in late March, although more often it occurs in April.

The first day of Spring also takes place in March.

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