March

March is the third month of the Gregorian calendar and has 31 days. It falls between February and April. The English name 'March' and its equivalents in other European languages derive from the Latin word 'Martius', named after Mars, the Roman god of war.

In the earlier Roman calendar, March was the first month of the year. For this reason, the names of some later months do not match their current numerical position: for example, September (seventh), October (eighth), November (ninth), and December (tenth) take their numerical names from their original position counting from the start of March.

Seasonal weather

In the Northern Hemisphere, March is counted as a spring month, while in the Southern Hemisphere it belongs to autumn. During this month occurs the spring equinox, the moment when day and night are approximately equal in length everywhere on Earth; this typically falls on 20 or 21 March.

Somalia and the Horn of Africa

In Somali regions, March generally marks the end of the dry season (jiilaal) and the beginning of the spring rains. Farmers and pastoralists use this month to prepare for planting and seeking new pasture, although the timing of the rains varies from year to year.

International observances

8 March is marked as International Women's Day. The month also contains various other international days observed by United Nations bodies. In some years, Ramadan, from the lunar calendar, falls in March, since the lunar calendar advances approximately ten days earlier each year.