Spring is almost here and this writer couldn’t be happier!
This month isn’t just about celebrating St. Patrick’s Day and the first day of spring (which falls on Thursday, March 20 this year). Nope, our third month of the year is full of surprising history, folklore and fun facts!
We’re sharing some of the most interesting March facts, we hope you enjoy reading about them.
1. March was once considered the first month of the year
Welcome to the third month of the year, or if you were born before 150 B.C., the firs montht! According to the oldest Roman calendars, one year was 10 months long, beginning in March and ending in December. It may sound crazy, but you can still see traces of this old system in our modern calendar: Because December was the 10th month, it was named for the number 10 in Latin (decem), just like September was named for seven (septem). January and February were the exceptions: They were just two nameless months called “winter,” proving that winter is literally so awful, it doesn’t even deserve a spot on the calendar.
2. March is all about transformation and new growth
As we bridge from winter to spring, March brings new growth and transformation. It’s the time when animals awake from hibernation and when people around the world partake in spring celebrations, along with spring cleaning to make their homes feel clean and new. It also heralds the start of a new astrological year, transitioning from Pisces season to Aries season.
3. March has two birth flowers 
March’s birth flowers, delightful daffodils and charming jonquils, have different meanings. But take note that all jonquils are daffodils, but not all daffodils are jonquils! Daffodils represent rebirth and hope, while jonquils represent affection and love. Daffodils are believed to have been named after Narcissus, the son of the river god, Cephissus, from Greek mythology. Legend has it that Narcissus fell in love with his own reflection in the water. He was so entranced that he fell into the pool and drowned, with one daffodil blooming in his place of death.
4. March has two birthstones
March has double birthstone magic: Aquamarine, with its watery name, was like a lucky charm for Roman sailors, who believed it protected them on the high seas. Some also thought it could cool tempers, prevent poisoning and increase the chance of epiphanies. Meanwhile, its birthstone buddy, bloodstone, has an association with bravery and vitality that goes back to the Middle Ages and Christian legends.
5. March was named after Mars
March was actually named for the Latin Martius, aka Mars, the Roman god of war and a mythical ancestor of the Roman people via his wolf-suckling sons, Romulus and Remus. With the winter frosts melting and the ground becoming fertile for harvest again in the Northern Hemisphere, the month of March was perfect for farmers to resume their farming, and for warriors to resume their warring.
ON THIS DATE
March 1: As the saying goes, March comes “in like a lion and out like a lamb.” That was certainly true on March 1, 2007, when a detachment of 170 Swiss infantrymen accidentally invaded neighboring Liechtenstein after getting lost on a training mission. Luckily, after explaining the mistake to Liechtenstein, the Swiss army was given directions and returned home safely.
March 2: On this date in 2016, NASA astronaut Scott Kelly returned to Earth after nearly one full year on the International Space Station, setting a new record for the longest uninterrupted trip to space. Of course, Suni Williams and Butch Whilmore have bypassed that record.
March 6: The Day of the Dude encourages participants to honor The Big Lebowski by takin’ ‘er easy all day, man, and maybe buying a new rug. It’ll really tie the room together.
March 7: The popular board game Monopoly was invented on March 7, 1933.
March 9: Daylight saving time begins, freeing American city-dwellers from the constant refrain of “it’s dark before I even leave work.”
March 14: Pi Day celebrates the annual occurrence of 3/14 with math jokes, pi-reciting competitions and (of course) freshly baked pie.
March 17: St. Patrick’s Day turns the Chicago River green, among other festivities. And on this day in 1973, Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon” first hit the Billboard Top 200 chart at number 95. A mere 14 years later (736 chart weeks, to be exact), it finally left the top 200 for the first time, setting a still-unbroken world record.
March 20: The sun shines on the equator for the vernal equinox, giving us a near 50-50 split of day and night.
March 21: The day Twitter was launched in 2006. Founder Jack Dorsey inaugurated the social media site with his profound first tweet: “just setting up my twttr.” Can you believe he really spelled it that way?!
March 28: Get ready to show your cat some love on Respect Your Cat Day! This is the day to go all out on your furry friends. Gift them a new toy, an extra treat or spread the word about this unofficial celebration of kitties!
March 30: Looking to join a walking club or get some extra steps in this month? Well, why not start on Take a Walk in the Park Day? Take a stroll at your local park, bring a friend for company and share photos of you connecting with nature.
March 31: Any Parisians or Paris connoisseurs? Celebrate Eiffel Tower Day, an unofficial holiday meant to honor the inauguration of the Eiffel Tower on March 31, 1889. Maybe indulge in an afternoon tea while wearing berets?