The beginning of the meteorological spring is March 1st in the Northern Hemisphere, and the Spring Equinox is on March 20th, called such because the sun shines directly on the equator, dividing night and day equally. The name “March” is from ancient Rome, from Mars/Ares, the god of war. In the Mediterranean climate of Rome, March is the first month of spring, historically the logical beginning of the year and start of the military campaign season. January became the first month of the calendar year around 700 BC to 450 BC (Roman historians differ).
The daffodil is the flower of March. Also known as the Narcissus, the plant is hardy, mostly spring-flowering and found in the Amaryllis family. The flower is frequently linked to the Greek myth of Narcissus, who became so obsessed with his own image in a pool of water that he fell in and drowned. The flower grew on the spot that he died. This derivation is questionable, and it is possible that the person’s name may have actually come from the flower.
The birthstones for March are the Aquamarine and the Bloodstone (Heliotrope). Aquamarine is a blue/turquoise variety of the mineral beryl. Its name is from the Latin aqua marina, or “water of the sea”. The mineral heliotrope, a form of chalcedony, is generally green with red inclusions of iron oxide or red jasper, hence the name “bloodstone”. The name heliotrope is derived from various ancient notions about the way which the mineral reflects light. Occasionally, the inclusions in chalcedony are yellow, in which case the mineral is called “plasma”. Both minerals symbolize courage.
