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!
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.
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.
7 National Crown Roast of Pork Day
8 International (Working) Women’s Day
13 Ear Muff Day
13 Jewel Day
14 Learn about Butterflies Day
15 Everything You Think is Wrong Day
16 Everything You Do is Right Day
19 Poultry Day
20 Extraterrestrial Abductions Day
20 Proposal Day
24 National Chocolate Covered Raisin Day
25 Pecan Day
25 Waffle Day
26 Make Up Your Own Holiday Day
29 National Mom and Pop Business Owners Day
30 Take a Walk in the Park Day
31 National Clam on the Half Shell Day
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.
“
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.
