Spring time

March is the third month of the year in both the Julian and Gregorian calendars. It is the second of seven months to have a length of 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.

March is the third month of the year in both the Julian and Gregorian calendars. It is the second of seven months to have a length of 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.

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,^[1] 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.^[2] Martius remained the first month of the Roman calendar year perhaps as late as 153 BC,^[3] and several religious observances in the first half of the month were originally new year's celebrations.^[4] Even in late antiquity, Roman mosaics picturing the months sometimes still placed March first.^[5]

Martius remained the first month of the Roman calendar year perhaps as late as 153 BC,^[3] and several religious observances in the first half of the month were originally new year's celebrations.^[4] Even in late antiquity, Roman mosaics picturing the months sometimes still placed March first.^[5]

Even in late antiquity, Roman mosaics picturing the months sometimes still placed March first.^[5]

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.^[7] 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 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.