March Full Month
NATIONAL WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH
Honors women as significant agents of historical change.
March 2–March 20 Sunday–Thursday
NINETEEN-DAY FAST • Bahá’í
Baha'is between 15 and 70 years of age do not eat or drink from sunrise to sunset and set aside time for prayer and meditation.
March 3 Monday
CLEAN MONDAY • Eastern Christian
The beginning of Great Lent for Eastern Christian churches, which starts 40 days before Orthodox Easter (Pascha), counting Sundays.
March 4 Tuesday
SHROVE TUESDAY • Western Christian
A day of penitence as well as the last chance to feast before Lent begins. Also known as Mardi Gras.
March 5 Wednesday
ASH WEDNESDAY • Western Christian
The first day of Lent for Western Christian churches, a 40-day period of spiritual preparation for Easter, not counting Sundays.
March 8 Saturday
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY
Celebration of the economic, political and social achievements of women worldwide.
March 16 Sunday
MAGHA PUJA • Buddhist
Also known as Sangha Day, it commemorates the spontaneous assembly of 1,250 arahants, completely enlightened monks, in the historical Buddha's presence.March 16
Sunday
PURIM • Jewish
The “Feast of Lots” marks the salvation of the Jews of ancient Persia from extermination.
March 17 Monday
HOLI • Hindu
Also called Holaka or Phagwa, this festival celebrates spring and commemorates various events in Hindu mythology.
March 17 Monday
ST. PATRICK’S DAY • Christian
Feast day of the patron saint of Ireland. In the U.S., a secular version is celebrated by people of all faiths through appreciation of all things Irish.
March 20 Thursday
VERNAL EQUINOX
The date when night and day are nearly the same length. It marks the first day of the season of spring.
March 21 Friday
INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR THE ELIMINATION OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION
Call to action to eliminate all forms of racial discrimination worldwide.
March 21 Friday
NOWRÚZ • Zoroastrian
A traditional ancient Iranian festival celebrating the first day of Spring and the Iranian New Year. Also celebrated as New Year‟s Day in Baha‟i tradition (Naw-Ruz).
March 31 Monday
CESAR CHAVEZ DAY
Honors Mexican American farm worker, labor leader and activist Cesar Chavez (1927–1993) who was a nationally respected voice for social justice.
