March is the third month of the year in both the Julian and Gregorian calendars . Its length is 31 days. In the Northern Hemisphere , the meteorological beginning of spring occurs on the first day of March. The March equinox on the 20 or 21 marks the astronomical beginning of spring in the Northern Hemisphere and the beginning of autumn in the Southern Hemisphere, where September is the seasonal equivalent of the Northern Hemisphere's March.
25-575: The name of March comes from Martius , the first month of the earliest Roman calendar . It was named after Mars , the Roman god of war, and an ancestor of the Roman people through his sons Romulus and Remus . His month Martius was the beginning of the season for warfare, and the festivals held in his honor during the month were mirrored by others in October, when the season for these activities came to
50-537: A close. Martius remained the first month of the Roman calendar year perhaps as late as 153 BC, and several religious observances in the first half of the month were originally new year 's celebrations. Even in late antiquity , Roman mosaics picturing the months sometimes still placed March first. March 1 began the numbered year in Russia until the end of the 15th century. Great Britain and its colonies continued to use March 25 until 1752, when they finally adopted
75-505: A result of calendar reforms undertaken by Marcus Aurelius . Days were also marked with nundinal letters in cycles of A B C D E F G H , to mark the "market week" (these are omitted in the table below). A dies natalis was an anniversary such as a temple founding or rededication, sometimes thought of as the "birthday" of a deity. During the Imperial period , some of the traditional festivals localized at Rome became less important, and
100-528: The March equinox and gradual lengthening of days, and the eventual namesake of Lent . Saxons also called March Rhed-monat or Hreth-monath (deriving from their goddess Rhedam / Hreth ), and Angles called it Hyld-monath , which became the English Lide . In Slovene , the traditional name is sušec , meaning the month when the earth becomes dry enough so that it is possible to cultivate it. The name
125-416: The March equinox and gradual lengthening of days, and the eventual namesake of Lent . Saxons also called March Rhed-monat or Hreth-monath (deriving from their goddess Rhedam / Hreth ), and Angles called it Hyld-monath , which became the English Lide . In Slovene , the traditional name is sušec , meaning the month when the earth becomes dry enough so that it is possible to cultivate it. The name
150-601: The 20 or 21 marks the astronomical beginning of spring in the Northern Hemisphere and the beginning of autumn in the Southern Hemisphere, where September is the seasonal equivalent of the Northern Hemisphere's March. The name of March comes from Martius , the first month of the earliest Roman calendar . It was named after Mars , the Roman god of war, and an ancestor of the Roman people through his sons Romulus and Remus . His month Martius
175-673: The Gregorian calendar (the fiscal year in the UK continues to begin on 6 April, initially identical to 25 March in the former Julian calendar). Many other cultures, for example in Iran, or Ethiopia, still celebrate the beginning of the New Year in March. March is the first month of spring in the Northern Hemisphere (North America, Europe, Asia and part of Africa) and the first month of fall or autumn in
200-619: The Ides of March," usually abbreviated a.d. VII Id. Mart. (or with the a.d. omitted altogether); March 23 was X Kal. Apr. , "the 10th day before the Kalends of April." On the calendar of the Roman Republic and early Principate , each day was marked with a letter to denote its religiously lawful status. In March, these were: By the late 2nd century AD, extant calendars no longer show days marked with these letters, probably in part as
225-612: The Southern Hemisphere (South America, part of Africa, and Oceania). Ancient Roman observances celebrated in March include Agonium Martiale , celebrated on March 1, March 14, and March 17, Matronalia , celebrated on March 1, Junonalia , celebrated on March 7, Equirria , celebrated on March 14, Mamuralia , celebrated on either March 14 or March 15, Hilaria on March 15 and then through March 22–28, Argei , celebrated on March 16–17, Liberalia and Bacchanalia , celebrated March 17, Quinquatria , celebrated March 19–23, and Tubilustrium , celebrated March 23. These dates do not correspond to
250-807: The beginning of the New Year in March. March is the first month of spring in the Northern Hemisphere (North America, Europe, Asia and part of Africa) and the first month of fall or autumn in the Southern Hemisphere (South America, part of Africa, and Oceania). Ancient Roman observances celebrated in March include Agonium Martiale , celebrated on March 1, March 14, and March 17, Matronalia , celebrated on March 1, Junonalia , celebrated on March 7, Equirria , celebrated on March 14, Mamuralia , celebrated on either March 14 or March 15, Hilaria on March 15 and then through March 22–28, Argei , celebrated on March 16–17, Liberalia and Bacchanalia , celebrated March 17, Quinquatria , celebrated March 19–23, and Tubilustrium , celebrated March 23. These dates do not correspond to
275-476: The birthdays and anniversaries of the emperor and his family gained prominence as Roman holidays. On the calendar of military religious observances known as the Feriale Duranum , sacrifices pertaining to Imperial cult outnumber the older festivals, but among the military the importance of Mars was maintained and perhaps magnified. The dies imperii was the anniversary of an emperor's accession. After
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#1732758502316300-625: The dating and observances on the following table are from H.H. Scullard , Festivals and Ceremonies of the Roman Republic (Cornell University Press, 1981), pp. 84–95. March (month) March is the third month of the year in both the Julian and Gregorian calendars . Its length is 31 days. In the Northern Hemisphere , the meteorological beginning of spring occurs on the first day of March. The March equinox on
325-432: The few Roman months named for a deity , Mars , who was regarded as an ancestor of the Roman people through his sons Romulus and Remus . March marked a return to the active life of farming, military campaigning, and sailing. It was densely packed with religious observances dating from the earliest period of Roman history. Because of its original position as the first month, a number of festivals originally associated with
350-545: The god has a second round of festivals clustered then. During the Principate , a "holy week" for Cybele and Attis developed in the latter half of the month, with an entry festival on the Ides, and a series of observances from March 22 through March 27 or 28. Isis had official festivals on March 7 and 20. The Romans did not number days of a month sequentially from the 1st through the last day. Instead, they counted back from
375-433: The mid-1st century AD, a number of dates are added to calendars for spectacles and games ( ludi ) held in honor of various deities in the venue called a " circus " (ludi circenses) . Festivals marked in large letters on extant fasti , represented by festival names in all capital letters on the table, are thought to have been the most ancient holidays, becoming part of the calendar before 509 BC. Unless otherwise noted,
400-537: The modern Gregorian calendar . In Finnish , the month is called maaliskuu , which is believed to originate from maallinen kuu . The latter means earthy month and may refer to the first appearance of "earth" from under the winter's snow. In Ukrainian , the month is called березень / berezenʹ , meaning birch tree , and březen in Czech. Historical names for March include the Saxon Lentmonat , named after
425-420: The modern Gregorian calendar . In Finnish , the month is called maaliskuu , which is believed to originate from maallinen kuu . The latter means earthy month and may refer to the first appearance of "earth" from under the winter's snow. In Ukrainian , the month is called березень / berezenʹ , meaning birch tree , and březen in Czech. Historical names for March include the Saxon Lentmonat , named after
450-441: The months sometimes still placed March first. March 1 began the numbered year in Russia until the end of the 15th century. Great Britain and its colonies continued to use March 25 until 1752, when they finally adopted the Gregorian calendar (the fiscal year in the UK continues to begin on 6 April, initially identical to 25 March in the former Julian calendar). Many other cultures, for example in Iran, or Ethiopia, still celebrate
475-400: The new year occurred in March. In the Imperial period , March was also a time for public celebration of syncretic or international deities whose cultus was spread throughout the empire, including Isis and Cybele . The menologia rustica told farmers to expect 12 hours of daylight and 12 of night in March. The spring equinox was placed March 25. The tutelary deity of the month
500-400: The sundown prior to the date listed, and end at sundown of the date in question unless otherwise noted.) Martius (month) Martius or mensis Martius (" March ") was the first month of the ancient Roman year until possibly as late as 153 BC. After that time, it was the third month, following Februarius ( February ) and preceding Aprilis ( April ). Martius was one of
525-542: The three fixed points of the month: the Nones (5th or 7th, depending on the length of the month), the Ides (13th or 15th), and the Kalends (1st) of the following month. The Nones of March was the 7th, and the Ides of March was the 15th. Thus the last day of March was the pridie Kalendas Aprilis, "day before the Kalends of April". Roman counting was inclusive ; March 9 was ante diem VII Idūs Martias , "the 7th day before
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#1732758502316550-573: Was Minerva , and the Sun was in Pisces . Farmers were instructed in this month to trellis vines, to prune, and to sow spring wheat. Festivals for Mars as the month's namesake deity date from the time of the kings and the early Republic . As a god of war, Mars was a guardian of agriculture and of the state, and was associated with the cycle of life and death. The season of Mars was felt to close in October, when most farming and military activities ceased, and
575-604: Was first written in 1466 in the Škofja Loka manuscript. Other names were used too, for example brezen and breznik , "the month of birches". The Turkish word Mart is given after the name of Mars the god. March's birthstones are aquamarine and bloodstone . These stones symbolize courage. Its birth flower is the daffodil . The zodiac signs are Pisces until approximately March 20 and Aries from approximately March 21 onward. This list does not necessarily imply either official status or general observance. (All Baháʼí , Islamic , and Jewish observances begin at
600-601: Was first written in 1466 in the Škofja Loka manuscript. Other names were used too, for example brezen and breznik , "the month of birches". The Turkish word Mart is given after the name of Mars the god. March's birthstones are aquamarine and bloodstone . These stones symbolize courage. Its birth flower is the daffodil . The zodiac signs are Pisces until approximately March 20 and Aries from approximately March 21 onward. This list does not necessarily imply either official status or general observance. (All Baháʼí , Islamic , and Jewish observances begin at
625-444: Was the beginning of the season for warfare, and the festivals held in his honor during the month were mirrored by others in October, when the season for these activities came to a close. Martius remained the first month of the Roman calendar year perhaps as late as 153 BC, and several religious observances in the first half of the month were originally new year 's celebrations. Even in late antiquity , Roman mosaics picturing
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