March
Did you know March was once widely accepted as the first month of the year? Even today it still marks the beginning of the New Year in many cultures and religions.
It originated in the Roman Calendar Year where it was named after the presumed ‘god of war’ for whom the planet Mars was also named after. Scholars debate whether January became recognized as the first month in the Roman calendar under King Numa Pompilius circa 713 BC or later under the Decemvirs around 450 BC.
Russia maintained March as the 1st month of the year until the end of the 15th century.
Great Britain and it’s colonies continued to use March 25 to mark the beginning of the New Year until 1752 when they adopted the Gregorian calendar.
Posted in Historical and tagged god of war, March, March Madness, Maritius, Mars, Martian, Martitia, Mythology, Roman Calendar by Brent with 1 comment.