The Month of March

March is the month that Saint Patrick’s Day
is celebrated and it officially brings the arrival of Spring,
which certainly brightens the month and which most of us are ready for after a long, dreary winter.

Tiptoed- Under the Tulips!
Tiptoed- Under the Tulips!

 

March is also National Crochet Month …
check out 100 Unique Crochet Scarves at Crochet Concupiscence or the FREE crochet patterns on Ravelry and do some March crocheting!  You might even want to try Amigurumi, the Japanese art of knitting or crocheting small stuffed animals and anthropomorphic creatures.

Flower of the Month: Daffodil, Jonquil

Birthstones of the Month: Aquamarine, Bloodstone

Astrological Signs: Pisces Feb. 19 – Mar. 20; Aries March 21 – April 19

The Moon this month is called the Crow Moon, Lenten Moon, Sap Moon, Seed Moon.

March 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 31days 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 March 1. In the Southern hemisphere, the beginning of the meteorological autumn is March 1st.

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. In leap years, March starts on the same day as September and December of the previous year. In common years, March starts on the same day as June of the previous year.

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 1st 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.

Mars

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. Saxonsalso 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.

I stumbled across a fun website today called Holiday Insights.  It is chock full of fun information on every holiday, big and small, that you can imagine.  In addition to Daylight Saving Time beginning on March 11th,  Ides of March on March 15th, Saint Patrick’s Day on March 17th, the First Day of Spring AND International Earth Day on March 20th, the website lists every day of March as a special day of some sort.

National Pig Day

Peanut Butter Lovers’ Day

Employee Appreciation Day

National Salesperson Day

Old Stuff Day

I Want You to be Happy Day

If Pets Had Thumbs Day

National Anthem Day

Peach Blossom Day

Holy Experiment Day

Hug a GI Day

Multiple Personality Day

Dentist’s Day

National Frozen Food Day

National Crown Roast of Pork Day

Be Nasty Day

International (Working) Women’s Day

Popcorn Lover’s Day

Panic Day

10 Middle Name Pride Day

11 Johnny Appleseed Day

11 Worship of Tools Day

12 Girl Scouts Day

12 Plant a Flower Day

13 Ear Muff Day

13 Jewel Day

14 Learn about Butterflies Day

14 National Potato Chip Day

14 National Pi Day

15 Everything You Think is Wrong Day

15 Ides of March

15 Incredible Kid Day

15 Dumbstruck Day

16 Everything You Do is Right Day

16 Freedom of Information Day

17 National Quilting Day

17 Submarine Day

17 Saint Patrick’s Day

18 Goddess of Fertility Day

18 Supreme Sacrifice Day

19 Poultry Day

20 International Earth Day

20 Extraterrestrial Abductions Day

20 Proposal Day

21 Fragrance Day

22 National Goof Off Day

23 National Chip and Dip Day

23 Near Miss Day

24 National Chocolate Covered Raisin Day

25 Pecan Day

25 Waffle Day

26 Make Up Your Own Holiday Day

27 National “Joe” Day

28 Something on a Stick Day

29 National Mom and Pop Business Owners Day

29 Smoke and Mirrors Day

30 National Doctor’s Day

30 I am in Control Day

30 Take a Walk in the Park Day

31 Bunsen Burner Day

31 National Clam on the Half Shell Day

 

Narcissus Print
Narcissus

One of the flowers most associated with March is the narcissus (Wil daffodil).  Named after a boy in Greek  mythology, who was changed into a flower.  Narcissus is also known as the Lent Lily because it blooms in early Spring and the blooms usually dropping before Easter.  The daffodil inspired Williams Wordsworth to write his famous poem “Daffodils”.

I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o’er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the milky way,
They stretched in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced; but they
Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:
A poet could not but be gay,
In such a jocund company:
I gazed–and gazed–but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought:

For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.

The Field- soft image of field of poppy flowers, in bright and happy spring colors, 8x10" (20x25cm)

March weather lore has sayings to guide us …

“When March comes in like a lion, it goes out like a lamb.”

“A dry March and a wet May fill barns and bays with corn and hay.”

” As it rains in March so it rains in June.”

“March winds and April showers bring forth May flowers.”

Gardeners- This is your month to seek out seeds and supplies for the season.  Perhaps a greenhouse or a raised garden bed is in your immediate future. Find Seeds and Supplies, and more now.