March is the third month of the year in the Gregorian calendar, and one of seven months that have 31 days.
March in the Southern Hemisphere is the seasonal equivalent of September in the Northern Hemisphere.
The name of March comes from ancient Rome, when March was the first month of the year and named Martius after Mars, the Roman god of war. In Rome, where the climate is Mediterranean, March is the first month of spring, a logical point for the beginning of the year as well as the start of the military campaign season. The numbered year began on March 1 in Russia until the end of the fifteenth century. Great Britain and her colonies continued to use March 25 until 1752, which was when they adopted the Gregorian calendar. Many other cultures and religions still celebrate the beginning of the New Year in March.
In Finnish, the month is called maaliskuu, which originates from maallinen kuu, meaning earthy month, because during maaliskuu, earth finally became visible under the snow. Historical names for March include the Saxon Lenctmonat, named after the 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.
Far from being an arbitrary indicator of the changing seasons, March 20 (March 21 in some years) is significant for astronomical reasons. On March 20, 2009, at precisely 7:44 A.M. EDT (March 20, 11:44 Universal Time), the Sun will cross directly over the Earth's equator. This moment is known as the vernal equinox in the Northern Hemisphere. For the Southern Hemisphere, this is the moment of the autumnal equinox.
People have recognized the vernal equinox for thousands of years.
There are many rituals and traditions surrounding the coming of spring and the celebration of the vernal equinox. Many early cultures celebrated for the basic reason that their food supplies would soon be restored.
The date is significant in Christianity because Easter follows the moon cycle and always falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the vernal equinox. It is also probably no coincidence that early Egyptians built the Great Sphinx so that it points directly toward the rising Sun on the day of the vernal equinox.
The first day of spring also marks the beginning of Nowruz, the Persian New Year. The celebration lasts 13 days and is rooted in the 3,000-year-old tradition of Zorastrianism. The spring equinox is associated with or known as Alaban Eilir, Eostar, Eostre, and Feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Festival of Trees, Lady Day, Naw Rux, No Ruz, Ostara, Ostra, Rites of Spring and the Vernal Equinox.
Day and night are balanced now. Light and dark, male and female, above and below are all in balance. The balance of opposites makes us whole in our worldly dimension.
Balancing one set of needs against another, balancing what we give and what we receive, balancing forgiveness with setting boundaries.
The balancing of opposites creates spiritual, physical and emotional well being. The time of the spring equinox encourages us to embrace our fears as our teacher, to look for the light in every situation regardless how dark and hopeless it may seem; to bring the positive light of love and forgiveness into any hurtful experience.
The vibrational energy of god is love; the vibrational frequency of love is light.
To seek out the energy of light inside a dark and painful experience will infuse the healing energy of spirit into it and help transform pain into understanding, wisdom and awareness.
This is not to be confused with denial or the resistance to pain. Surrendering to the void and darkness with the inner faith of the presence of the light and spirit will help you get to the bottom of it and then be uplifted from it with gained knowledge and self awareness.
The days leading up to the spring equinox offer a great opportunity to get rid of emotional cobwebs, clean out your physical and emotional closets, let go of dated belief systems and old pain. When doing your spring cleaning, let it be expressive and metaphorical for your inner clearing. Wash your windows if you want to see more clearly, put fresh new linens on your bed, prune away old branches to make room for new growth, replace the old light bulbs with eco friendly ones - bring light into a dark situation.
Open your doors and windows, smudge and clear your home - out with the old!
Visualize the new world you want to create for yourself, invite it into your space - in with the new!
Send a prayer of justice and peace for the planet, justice means balance. Throw off the yoke of winter and welcome spring with an open heart.
Equal night, equal day. Experience the momentary balance of light and dark within you on the day of the equinox by engaging in meditation and celebration.
And remember, when your light of love shines strongly, it brightens up the darkness of anyone in your presence.
Dorothea Delgado
Posted by: Tammy
on March 05, 2009
