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DARE THE WORLD TO SAVE THE PLANET
Tuesday, March 20, 2012, at 1:14 a.m. EDT marks the vernal equinox, and official start of spring. But as people in the Northern Hemisphere swap snow shoes for rain boots, those in the Southern Hemisphere will begin preparing for fall.
The vernal equinox and autumnal equinox occur in March and September, respectively. An equinox occurs when the sun shines directly on the equator and, during this time, periods of night and day are nearly equal.
In 2012, spring will last until June 19, but a winter of unseasonably warm weather in some areas might mean trouble in the coming months. Insects, for example, might more plentiful as they haven't had the chance to die off.
One traditional icon of the day is the shamrock. And this stems from a more bona fide Irish tale that tells how Patrick used the three-leafed shamrock to explain the Trinity. He used it in his sermons to represent how the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit could all exist as separate elements of the same entity. His followers adopted the custom of wearing a shamrock on his feast day.
The St. Patrick's Day custom came to America in 1737. That was the first year St. Patrick's Day was publicly celebrated in this country, in Boston.
Today, people celebrate the day with parades, wearing of the green, and drinking beer. One reason St. Patrick's Day might have become so popular is that it takes place just a few days before the first day of spring. One might say it has become the first green of spring.
The person who was to become St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, was born in Wales about AD 385. His given name was Maewyn, and he almost didn't get the job of bishop of Ireland because he lacked the required scholarship.
Far from being a saint, until he was 16, he considered himself a pagan. At that age, he was sold into slavery by a group of Irish marauders that raided his village. During his captivity he became a Christian and adopted the name Patrick.
He escaped from slavery after six years and went to Gaul where he studied in the monastery under St. Germain, bishop of Auxerre for a period of twelve years. During his training he got the notion that his calling was to convert the pagans to Christianity.
His wishes were to return to Ireland, to convert the native pagans to Christianity. But his superiors instead appointed St. Palladius. But two years later, Palladius transferred to Scotland. Patrick was then appointed as second bishop to Ireland.
His mission in Ireland lasted for thirty years. After that time, Patrick retired to County Down. He died on March 17 in AD 461. That day has been commemorated as St. Patrick's Day ever since.
When : Always March 16th
Did you know that March 16th is a holiday? Yes. It is Everything You Do Is Right Day. During this 24-hour period, you get to feel good about yourself regardless of what you do. Sound empowering? Here are a few ways for you to set this holiday off.
Wear a unique outfit.
Forget about fashion norms or faux pas' on Everything You Do Is Right Day. Instead, put on a pair of polka dot socks with striped pants. Mix purple with green. Let other people's opinion about you looks be their own and sport whatever is in your closet with pride.
Say "no" to someone.
Reattach your spine to your backbone and stop being a doormat - at least for a day.
Sneak in an afternoon nap.
Exhausted? On Everything You Do Is Right Day, take a twenty-minute nap. Sleep in your car on break. Curl up in bed at home. Use this holiday as a reason to get the kind of sleep you need to function and be happy.
Eat a piece of chocolate.
Stop worrying about your waistline and eat a piece of chocolate. Make good use of your time and devour the kind of chocolate you'd normally pass by. Since this holiday only happens once a year, you won't be any better or worse by eating something sweet. Then, afterward, do yourself a favor. Feel good about it. Eat with no regrets.
These are just a few ways to celebrate Everything You Do Is Right Day. By now, you probably figured out the main emphasis of this holiday is to help people feel freer. It's just one day in the year (besides your birthday) that you can indulge yourself and be yourself. Please remember to use common sense there are limits to what you can get away with.
When : March 15th
The Ides of March is the first day of the Roman New Year.It also marks the first day of spring in the Roman calendar.
On this day in history, Julius Caesar was warned by soothsayers to "beware of the Ides of March". Apparently, he did not heed the warning strongly enough as he was stabbed by Marcus Brutus on the Ides of March in 44 BC.
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