Hi guys, how are you doing? I hope you are ready for the new quiz. Today we are going to talk about the third month of the year. Yes, it is March, you guessed correctly! Interestingly enough, March was not always the third month in the year, and even today is the first month in many places. You will learn these facts and more if you read on.

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 in the Southern Hemisphere (South America, part of Africa, and Oceania). In ancient Latin, March was called Martius mensis or the month of Mars, the Roman god of war.

In Finnish, the month of March is called maaliskuu, which supposedly originated from maallinen kuu. That means earthy month and may describe how the earth becomes visible from under the melting snow.

The birth flower for March is the daffodil, representing prosperity, happiness, and rebirth. In Persian culture, the daffodil symbolizes the New Year. Traditionally, the March’s birthstone is aquamarine and has a calming and soothing meaning. The Zodiac signs in March are Pisces and Aries. Pisces season is from January 19 to March 20, and Aries lasts from March 21 to April 19. The full moon occurring in March is called the Worm Moon; it is because, around this time, earthworms show up in many places in the northern half of the world.

March was the first month in the Roman calendar because war would start again after the winter; March was the beginning of the season of combat and warfare. When the Roman king Numa Pompilius introduced January and February to the calendar, March became the third month of the year.

However, March is still the first month for many people around the world. In most regions of India, the new year in the Hindu calendar starts on the New Moon before the Sun enters the zodiac sign of Aries, around the time of the March Equinox. The Persian New Year is celebrated on March 21. Also, the orthodox Jewish calendar starts with the month of Nisan, which occurs in March or April in the Gregorian calendar.

When you think about important March dates, the Ides of March must come to your mind. The Ides of March was indeed a special day in ancient Roman society. It corresponded with the 15th day of March in the Gregorian calendar. Ides comes from an old Latin verb iduare, which meant to divide; it was the Roman term for the day that came in the middle of the month. During that time the Romans celebrated the new year, made sacrifices, and paid their debts. The reason you heard of The Ides of March is probably because of the assassination of Julius Caesar that happened on that day. Do you know the phrase: Beware of The Ides of March? These words are said in William Shakespeare’s play Julius Caesar by the leader to the fortune teller.

One of the most widely known celebrations during March is St Patrick’s Day, observed on March 17. Though Irish in origin, it started as a day in honor of Ireland’s patron saint, the holiday became famous internationally. Americans, in particular, are fond of it.

People in many countries like to celebrate the day by drinking alcohol, wearing green and having a great time. Many like to drink green drinks and eat green food; even water is dyed green in public places in some towns. There are large street parades all around. In the USA there are parades in Chicago, Boston, New Orleans, New York, and many other cities.

The universal symbol of St Patrick’s Day is the shamrock. It is the leaf of the clover plant and a symbol of the Holy Trinity. Other symbols include the colors of Ireland’s flag (green, orange, and white), the leprechaun hiding a pot of gold, brands of beer associated with the Irish, and of course, the color green in itself.

Have you ever heard about March Madness? That is the name of the college basketball national championship in the United States. During March and April, sixty-eight college basketball teams play for the title in the so-called NCAA March Madness. The official name for the event is The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament. Quite a mouthful. It is a popular event among sports and non-sporting fans alike.

So, are you feeling confident about your March trivia? Do you think you can get the perfect score on this quiz? There is no time like now to try. Get to the questions, and when you have your result, don’t forget to share it with friends and boast about it a little! You deserve it, after all.