Marvelous March

It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold:
when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade.
~Charles Dickens
March has made its arrival and true to form, for most of us, it has come in like a lion and we're hoping it goes out like a lamb! Even though I'm a day late, I thought I would share some fun facts and trivia about this third month of the Gregorian calendar with you today as a way to welcome the new month.

March was named for the Roman god Mars, god of war, and was actually the first month of the Roman year. There is a bit of logic to both its position in the calendar and its naming since springtime is the time of new beginnings, and after the long dark, cold winter, it was also the ideal time to start considering plans for plundering and pillaging that next village in the rites of war..

March is one of 7 months in the year that has 31 days and it always starts on the same day of the week as the November of that year.

March's traditional birthstone is the bloodstone - a green chalcedony with red inclusions of iron oxide or red jasper. The modern birthstone is the one most people recognize - the aquamarine - which is a light blue or turquoise colored variety of beryl.

The jonquil is March's birth flower, however daffodils and narcissus are also considered tradtional birth flowers of March.

The only well known holiday that always falls in March is St Patrick's Day (17th), however Easter also does occur toward the end of March in some years. This year it lands on April 4th! In the Northern Hemisphere we usher in the beginning of the spring season on March 20, which our friends in the Southern Hemisphere are just beginning their autumn.

Do you share a March birthday with any of these famous March born people?

March arrives in the sign of Pisces, giving way to the first sign of the zodiac cycle - Aries, the sign of the ram - on March 21st.
Month-long celebrations for March include American Red Cross Month, National Women's History Month, Irish-American Heritage Month, Family Fun Month, Adopt a Rescued Guinea Pig Month, National Multiple Sclerosis Education and Awareness Month, National Hamburger and Pickle Month, and National Hobby Month - among so many others!

The Native American name for the full Moon this month is the Worm Moon or the Crow Moon, depending on the locale of the tribe.

The angel for the month of March is Machadiel, who is the "Grace Bringer".

March's trees are Weeping Willow, Hazelnut, Lime and Oak. Hazel tree symbolism includes hidden wisdom, dousing and divination.

According to the Chinese agricultural calendar, March is the month of the Rabbit.

There are so many more interesting facts, legends and folklore surrounding the month of March, but I'm hoping you've enjoyed the few that I've shared with you!

I'd like to say thank you to the following shops for the display of their items to illustrate my post. Please be sure to visit them all, as well as the other great Etsy shops that are featuring March related items!

Aquamarine Blue Czech Glass with Antiqued Brass Earrings - Grace - Mysticwynd
Three Back-lit JONQUILS from Below - BLANK 5 X 7 Flower NOTECARD - WinsomeWorks
Zodiac Sign Silver Pendant - Pisces - Nanostyle
Zodiac Sign Silver Pendant - Aries - Nanostyle
GUINEA PIG LEPRECHAUNS 4pc Saint Patrick's Day Magnet Gift Set - JenKlimas