Mar 01 2009
Public Holidays - March
Continuing the monthly series of Public Holidays, Festivals and Events in Malaysia, Switzerland and the USA… March seems to be even less “happening” than February this year! Here’s the list I managed to come up with for March 2009:
March 2nd: National Reading Day (USA)
Never having gone to school in the USA, I assume this day is marked with book readings (doh!) and the like. I find it cool that this day was chosen because it’s the birthday of Dr. Seuss.
March 9th: Maulidur Rasul / Maulud Nabi (Prophet Muhammad’s birthday) (Malaysia)
Please see Lina’s write-up about this day. I think the celebrations are usually in the form of Koran-reciting or nasyid (singing of Muslim-oriented songs, usually a capella) competitions… it *is* a religious holiday, after all…
 St Patrick’s Day in Chicago by locusolus |
March 17th: St Patrick’s Day (USA)
A celebration of St Patrick, patron Saint of Ireland, said to have “driven the snakes” from the island back in the second half of the fifth century. It is now marked all over the world as a celebration of Irish heritage and culture (and an excuse to drink, LoL!). Chicago dyes its river green for this day, as you can see in this image. Green beer. The wearing of the green. Shamrocks (three-leaved clover). Green features prominently, can you tell? LoL!
March 19th: St Joseph’s Day (Switzerland)
Eight Swiss (Catholic) cantons take this day off to honor the husband of Mary the Mother of Christ. Wikipedia talks about how countries like Italy, Malta and the Philippines mark the day, but I have no direct experience about what to expect if you’re in Switzerland. If anyone can contribute in the comments, that would be great 
Other notables:
- American Red Cross Month
- Women’s History Month (USA)
- March 2nd: Texas Independence Day (Texas)
- March 15th: The Ides of March (also the anniversary of the assassination of Julius Caesar)
- March 20th: Vernal equinox. The Persian New Year is also celebrated on this day
- Did you know that March has two birthstones? Aquamarine and bloodstone. They both mean courage, which fits well with the month named after the God of War, eh?
I think it’s so cool that Chicago dyes the river green.
Davida
thanks for the link. Waiting eagerly for another chance to have Monday off.