March, March, March. No, I am not talking about the ceremonial process of marching but rather what is in this month we call March. Now, it is said that February that proceeds March is the most haunted month in the coldest regions. Supposedly, ghosts feel better about making an appearance then versus maybe in the month we are in now. So, what would one say about the unknown for this month? Does each month carry it's own twisted tales of ghouls, ghosts and goblins? Do humanoids and other life forms prefer a certain month over another? Here, you will find that Astrology plays an important role under my Paranormal Umbrella.
Well, let's see what we have in this month as it certainly has a full calendar of noted events.
March commences (according to non-sidereal astrology) with the sun in the sign of Pisces and ends in my sign, Aries. Always end with an Aries I say! Astronomically speaking, the sun starts in the constellation of Aquarius (that's my father's sign, Mr. Ghost Hunter himself who just turned 88) and ends in the constellation of Pisces (two of my four children are Pisces and my husband as well...another child.)
All kidding aside, March is the third month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of seven months with a length of 31 days. This detail seems to fascinate my children as they look onto the calendar. You see, when they begin elementary school, one of the lessons they learn is actually based on Astrology. What's in a calendar year and how is it broken up? So, they understand that each month has a different amount of cycles in days and holidays fall differently each year including their favorites like Christmas and the celebration of their own birth.
The name March originates from ancient Rome. March was the first month of the year and was called Martius after Mars, who was the Roman god of war. In Rome, the climate is Mediterranean like, so logically March is the first month of spring, a sensical point for the beginning of the year. I also learned it is the beginning of the military campaign season. One never knows until we research and ask the questions. And even then, there is no gaurantee we will get the answers we seek. On March 1 in Russia, the numbered year started and continued until the end of the fifteenth century. Historically, it was Great Britain and her colonies that used March 25 until the year 1752. In that same year, they decided to adhere to the Gregorian calendar of which I mentioned previously. Since then, other cultures/religions still celebrate the beginning of the New Year in this month.
This brings about my childhood memories of French Easter (Pâques) as my Parisian grandmother would call it. The hiding of the eggs and the treasure hunts we would go on with our cousins. My grandmother, Rosine Claire, would stand over us in her home on Ronkonkoma, Long Island with her arms folded. As each of the grandchildren hunted, she'd say whether we were warm or cold. Trying to suppress her rich, infectious European laughter, she kept a straight face nonetheless and steered us as we moved along like ghost hunters in the night. Even then, I was preparing for what would become a role to play later on in my life. Except eggs aren't quite ghosts now are they. But, both can smell bad sometimes non?
French Easter (Pâques) Traditions: French Easter Traditions Easter is celebrated in France much as it is in America, with many religious ceremonies commemorating the rebirth of Jesus, and cultural customs having to do with rabbits, chocolates and eggs. Nana (Rosine) believed very much in Jesus and had much faith as you will learn from reading my new book.
The predominant religion in France is Roman-Catholic, which Nana is. No city, village or town is without a church. Many of them date back to the twelfth century or even before. Most churches have bells, which are rung joyfully throughout the year marking various events and the passages of time. Rosine's grandfather often enjoyed those traditions as he caroused through the streets of Paris. I find that rather lovely and reflective. One can say you must stop and smell the roses and one can also say, one must stop and hear the bells.
Anyway, on the Thursday before Good Friday, all church bells in France are silenced in acknowledgment of Jesus' death. For fun, children are told that the bell's chimes have flown to Rome to see the Pope. Easter morning, the bells ring out once again in celebration of the Resurrection, declaring that Jesus is alive again. If I were him, I'd be happy to see the party going on in my honor and memory. I mean who wouldn't after they are long gone. In fact, I declare to the after world that when we live a good life and pass, we should have a day of honor and watch those dance in the streets ringing a bell or two. Of course, I'll have to take this to the higher ups but you get my drift. In some villages, people kiss and embrace one another when they hear the bells ring. Likely excuse for some dating action but nonetheless a sign of affection and love. I find no negative in that ritual at all. The French really are passionate and are lively people. I am proud to be part of that heritage. Merci beaucoup Nana!
French Easter Traditions Easter morning is a happy time for children who wake to look for colorfully decorated Easter eggs (les oeufs de Pâques) hidden in their gardens, homes and playgrounds. See, I told you! Parents tell their children the eggs were brought from Rome (where the chimes had gone), and that when the chimes returned they brought the eggs with them. In some parts of France children look for small chariots full of eggs pulled by white horses. Okay, when I found this out I was like hey, we were gipped! But, I suppose it would have been rather difficult to get some chariots and white horses for that holiday out on the Island. Maybe one would have been nice. There are plenty of Horse farms on the Island... I'm just saying. Or, maybe it's the magic that France has that was missing but then again, I think Nana did a great and fun-filled job for the grandchildren and brought that French tradition over to America. Sometimes on Christmas, we'd hunt for small tokens of gifts meant to excite the grandchildren before the bigger gifts. So, Nana seemed to like to continue one tradition and use it for another. Why not? There are no rules.
Unlike Americans, the French allot an extra vacation day for the Easter holiday. Everyone gets an automatic three-day weekend which they usually use to spend time with family. Schools and universities tend to center the second spring vacation (two weeks for each of them) around Pâques as well. Easter also marks the start of the "high" season for tourists, and hotel prices rise accordingly. Of course, the travel industry must make that money on holiday. Holiday travel is huge and not just with the travelers but in your wallet as you slowly start to see a hole appear as you would an apparition. A series of holidays (starting with the three-day Easter weekend) continues into May, with a trio of three-day weekends that month. Oui, j'aime cas beaucoup!
In Finnish, the month is called maaliskuu, meaning earthy month. This is because the earth started to show from under the snow. As in history, there are always historical names and they are for March: Saxon term Lenctmonat, named for the equinox and eventual lengthening of days and the eventual namesake of Lent. The Saxons also called March Rhed-monat (for their goddess Rhedam); ancient Britons called it hyld-monath (meaning loud or stormy). That one pretty much explains my own home...hyld-monath it is! March, from the Très riches heures du duc de Berry.
March in the Southern Hemisphere is the seasonal equivalent of September in the Northern Hemisphere. Pretty interesting as one begins spring and the other fall. But, depending on climate and region it just may feel like the opposite so it is all relevant at the end of the day. And don't get any activists going on this as the debate of global warming keeps warming up. I'll stay clear of that for now.
March for me represents a new beginning, a re-birth and a painful reminder of my late aunt's passing and loss to Lymphoma. But, she began my awakening 2 1/2 years after her passing on earth, and came back to prod me along on my newfound yet fated path. For her, March will always be a reminder for me of courage, strength, hope, pain, loss and then the healing process. That we really are living on borrowed time and perhaps some of us come back to live again. Some of us perhaps have completed our lives and are finished. This all taps into reincarnation and whether one believes if this is it then you pass. End of story.
Except with history and years upon layered years of testimonials, documentation and eyewitness accounts and experiences, I find it hard even for the toughest of tough skeptics to really believe this is it. Are we that vain and self-absorbed as a society, the human race, or mix-breed as some believe; to be so narrow minded and one tracked? Perhaps and perhaps not. I now leave you with some events that occur in this March Madness and wish you all a safe, egg-treasure hunting holiday. May you have a white horse drawn chariot or two, filled with those magical eggs!
- American Red Cross Month
- Fire Prevention month (The Philippines)
- Women's History Month (United States)
- Mardi Gras (February 3 to March 9 in non-leap years or February 4 to March 9 in leap years)
Check out New Orleans The Haunted Mortuary's comeback 24/7 interactive Museum Exhibit hosting the Holzer/Buxhoeveden work. I donated to them as they were hit hard from Katrina. My mother, the Countess, will be attending the Museum this fall for her own Haunted Art Exhibit. We are appearing in New Orleans Big Easy Magazine!
- Ash Wednesday (some Wednesday between February 4 to March 10)
- The wearing of a Martenitsa in Bulgaria and Martisor in Romania (March 1)
- Saint David's Day (March 1)
- National Reading Day (United States) (March 2)
- International Women's Day - March 8
- Pluto Planet Day (New Mexico)- March 13 (discussed here)
- Pi Day (March 14)
- The Ides of March, the anniversary of the assassination of Julius Caesar by Brutus, Cassius, Casca, and others (March 15)
- Remembering to the 1848's Hungarian Revolution (March 15)
- Saint Patrick's Day (March 17)
- Saint Joseph's Day (March 19)
- The equinox named the vernal or spring equinox in the northern hemisphere and the autumnal equinox in the southern hemisphere occurs on dates varying from 19 March to 21 March (in UTC).
- Annunciation (March 25)
- Norouz: New Year's Day in Iran and several other countries. A holiday in Turkey, Japan, and Central Asian countries as well.
- Good Friday (some Friday between March 20 to April 23, being the last Friday before Easter)
- Easter (some Sunday between March 22 to April 25)
- Pakistan Day - March 23
- Hanami, the traditional Japanese custom of enjoying the beauty of flowers starts in late March.
