We were supposed to just do the month of March for this issue, but as we are running so late with the magazine launch, we’ll do a double doobie and note both March and April.
The Month of March
March was named after Mars, the Roman god of War. In the Roman calendar March was the first month of the year, as well as the first month of Spring. The Spring (or Vernal) Equinox occurs in March—this year on the 20th of the month. Equinox means “equal night,” where the night and day are of equal length because the sun crosses directly over the equator on this day.
It was not until 1752 when England officially adopted the Gregorian calendar did they change the 1st of the year to January. Spring, however, has occurred in March for thousands of years, so that was not changed.
One of the most famous dates in March is the 15th—the Ides of March. In 44 BCE Julius Caesar was assassinated on this date. He was stabbed some 23 times by Senators in the Roman Forum, and among the killers was his possible illegitimate son, Marcus Brutus.
March 15th is also a holy day of Rhea, Greek goddess of the earth, mother of Zeus, and an aspect of the Great Mother. March 23rd is the Norse festival of Summer Finding, which acknowledges the light of the sun becoming more powerful than darkness. For about 300 years March 28th was the given date of the birth of Jesus, until the year 336 when the Church in Rome changed the date of birth to 25 December, to coincide with the many pagan festivals which occurred around this date.
The Month of April
The month of April is named after the Greek goddess Aphrodite (the Roman Venus). April is the season of opening. It is the month when the earth opens to receive seed, the time when growing plants open up, young leaves unfold, and blossoms open. The Anglo-Saxon name for this month is Eastermonath, the month of the goddess Eostre, whose name is the origin of the word Easter. In Christian folklore, Easter is the day when Christ is supposed to have risen from his tomb and ascended into heaven.
April 1st is known as All Fools’ Day, when it socially permissible to play tricks and practical jokes, but only from dawn until noon. The Festival of Fools is ruled over by the Norse trickster god Loki. This year Easter falls on April 4th. April 15th is the old Roman festival of the goddess Tellus, often called Tellus Mater—Mother Earth—and is devoted to prayer for the continued health of our environment. Tellus is the matron goddess of all environmentalists. In recent times, April 21st has become known as Earth Day, when people sometimes remember their responsibility toward the environment. April 30th—May Eve—is Walpurgis Night, dedicated to the Saxon goddess, Walpurga.
And that will do it for this issue.
Merry Spring to one and all.
