Fun Celebrations in March: Holidays and Ideas You'll Love
Bring on March!
COVID, record-breaking low temperatures across much of the country, power outages...we could use all use a breath of fresh and healthy air!
There are plenty of reasons to celebrate this great – and warmer! – month. Here are reasons for you to relax, and celebrate the month of March with your friends and family.
(The holidays are listed in chronological order, as only you can determine the most important ones!)
Spring Forward? Lose Sleep But Gain More Daylight
On March 14th, 2021 at 2 am, people in the United States will adjust their clocks and “spring forward.” Practically speaking, this means that on Saturday night when you to bed, you should set your clock ahead one hour.
The good news? More daylight hours and warmer weather ahead.
Less good, of course, is we lose an hour of sleep.
Many clocks will “spring ahead” on their own, such as your phone. Other clocks, such as the ones on the wall, your microwave and (possibly) your car will require manual adjustment.
Celebrate Daylight Savings Time by doing something fun outside with your extra hour of daylight. Take a walk around your neighborhood, enjoy a glass of wine outside or challenge the kids to see who can adjust the most clocks in the house to the proper time!
Selection Sunday 2021, Time Brackets Are Announced
On the same day that Daylight Savings Time begins, the NCAA will announce which teams will make it into the Division 1 Men’s Basketball tournament.
Known as March Madness, this sporting event starts with 68 teams…but ends with only one being crowned champion on Monday, April 5th at 6pm PST (9 pm EST).
Traditionally, the early rounds of the basketball tournament are played in 13 different locations across the country. Given that COVID19 is still a threat, the 2021 NCAA tournament is being played in a “bubble” which means all games will take place in one location---in and around Indianapolis, Indiana.
Even if you don’t give a hoot about college basketball, it’s a time-honored tradition to fill out your brackets and predict the winner. Many people will place bets in their office pool or with friends, while others will just fill them out for bragging rights.
Celebrate Selection Sunday with your family or friends by filling out your brackets together or watching some of the games. For those parents of high school students, brackets are a great way to expose kids to colleges that may not be on their radar screen.
(As strange as it may sound, filling out basketball brackets for this tournament is one of the time-honored traditions in my family. For the past 15 years, we’ve gone to my son’s favorite restaurant, PF Changs, to fill out our brackets and eat dinner. )
Pi Day is March 14th
Amazingly, we’re not done with March 14th yet, because it’s also Pi Day, or in some parts of the world, 3/14.
Pi Day is a celebration of the mathematical concept of pi, which is a ratio of the distance around a circle (circumference) divided by the distance across the circle (diameter). This relationship is key to many mathematical calculations and is used in quantum physics, engineering, architecture and more.
You don’t have to be a math fan to celebrate pi day, however.
Celebrate Pi Day by baking or buying a pie for your loved ones or gift it to your favorite math teacher or engineer. Many around the country will be celebrating this day with good food and sweet treats, so why not join in on the fun.
Why Do We Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day?
St. Patrick’s Day celebrates the patron saint of Ireland who lived in the late 4th century. At the age of 16, Patrick was kidnapped from Roman Britain and taken to Ireland as a slave. He escaped and years later, returned to Ireland to convert them to Christianity.
St. Patrick’s Day is known for the color green, shamrocks (said to represent the holy trinity), corned beef and cabbage, and in many circles, beer!
In non-pandemic years (aka the Before Times), St. Patrick’s Day was embraced by bars as an opportunity to gather and raise a toast---Irish or not.
Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day safely by donning your green, gifting a bouquet of shamrocks, making some Irish food and drinking beer.
What is Spring Cleaning?
Spring cleaning is a time to tidy up your house and organize your possessions during the month, making sure that everything has a place and there’s a place for everything.
Less of a holiday and more of a ritual by necessity, spring cleaning fever usually hits in March as the days become longer and the weather warmer.
“Celebrate” spring cleaning by enjoying your newly cleaned windows, your freshly washed comforter or a newly organized garage. While the process of cleaning and organizing isn’t exactly fun, the end result of your labors usually is.
Goof Off Day is March 22nd
There’s even a day celebrating the forgotten art of goofing off. It’s March 22nd, officially known as Goof Off Day so you can take this opportunity to have some day-sanctioned FUN.
Move thoughts of the pandemic from the forefront of your mind and indulge in something that’s truly fun for you.
Celebrate Goof Off Day by packing a picnic lunch and heading to a park; grab a People magazine (one that you can hold in your hand) and sip a fufu drink; invite a few friends to duck out of work early and come over for cocktails and board games.
No matter what you do, just remember to have fun and take comfort in knowing that you’re only doing what the day mandates you do. Relieve yourself of your To Do List, order some takeout food and remember that kicking back and taking things easy is important self-care.
Get Ready for Easter, April 4, 2021
Though technically an April holiday, Easter will be here before you know it. Get your Easter baskets out, get some jelly beans and chocolate bunnies and be ready to celebrate.
