March 2021

Th e Monthly Gazette

“Welcome, O March! Whose kindly days and dry make April ready for the throstle’s song, thou first redresser of the winter’s wrong!” ~ from the poem “March” by William Morris

Animal of the Month – Canary Special Days The canary is a small songbird in the finch family. The little Women’s Day yellow bird gets its name March 8 from its place of origin, the Macaronesian Islands, which Daylight Saving includes the Azores, Canary, Time Begins and Madeira Islands. Canaries March 14 were first domesticated in the 17th century and soon became the past, canaries were used by St. Patrick’s Day popular among the royal courts miners to detect toxic gases in March 17 of England and Spain, which in mining tunnels. These endearing turn drove popularity among the birds are celebrated at canary First Day of Spring general public across Europe. shows held throughout the world. March 20 These birds are prized for their The cartoon character Tweety lovely song as well as their Bird is a canary. Police informants Passover Begins sweet appearance. In addition are said to “sing like a canary,” March 27 to the tell-tale yellow and green alluding to the bird’s tendency to Palm Sunday hues, canaries come in other sing (beautiful) elaborate songs, colors, including white, red, just like informants do when March 28 black, orange, and brown. In ratting out fellow criminals. Flower – Daffodil Birthstone – Aquamarine When the green stems of the March’s birthstone, aquamarine, is daffodils shoot up toward the a gorgeous, pale blue gem that is sky, it’s official—spring has found in the western United States, finally sprung! Though most Brazil, Siberia, and Myanmar. parts of the daffodil plant are Aquamarines get their name from considered poisonous if consumed, it does have the Latin for “water of the sea.” The medicinal uses. The Japanese have used the stones with the deepest blue color bulb to treat wounds, and in some parts of the fetch the highest prices, but the pale gems are world, a compound called galantamine—found also very popular. Aquamarines were highly in the flower—is being studied to combat prized by sailors, who believed the stones could Alzheimer’s disease. The daffodil also is used to provide protection both from turbulent seas and celebrate a 10th wedding anniversary, but always in a bunch; lore has it that a single flower the tempting calls of any sirens or sea nymphs can foretell misfortune. they might encounter on their voyages.

©ActivityConnection Monthly Gazette March 2021

Take a Birthday Bough Turn a Few Pages

Dogwood (Mar. 1–8) diplomacy. They In honor of World Book Folks born under the dogwood are born diplomats Day (March 5), consider tree are driven, daring, and and don’t get upset easily. A cozying up with a good determined. They are magnolia’s mantra should be read. The average person passionate in all things and “take it with a grain of salt.” They reads 12 books per year, very ambitious. If you know a also tend to be very honest and but the average CEO “dogwood” person, you might compassionate. If you are seeking speeds through around 60. want to get out of their way a truthful answer, ask a person So, maybe lots of reading because they can overwhelm born under the magnolia tree. In is the secret to success. people on their way to achieving addition, they make great listeners. their goals. It’s no surprise that they are inclined to be successful Cherry (Mar. 24–31) in their careers. They also tend Chances are, if you fell from March Zodiacs to be very spontaneous. the cherry tree, you are a person of uncommon talent, generosity, Pisces (Fish) Magnolia (Mar. 9–23) and intelligence. You are pragmatic March 1–20 What people with the magnolia and organized in all things, but personality lack in confidence sometimes you let your brain Aries (The Ram) and planning they make up for rule over your heart. You are March 21–31 with their keen mental curiosity, also likely to be a loyal, kind, gumption, and innate social and helpful friend and partner.

March hasn’t always been the third month of the year. In the ancient Roman calendar, it was the year’s first month. Beginning the year in March actually makes sense because it is when new growth starts after the “dead” of the winter. March’s name comes from martius, meaning “the month of Mars.” (Mars was the Roman god of war.) The Anglo-Saxons called the month hyld monath, which means “stormy month,” and hraed monath, meaning “rugged month.”

March for the Record March Birthdays Guinness World Records accepts only about 3% Theodor Seuss Geisel (writer) – March 2, 1904 of the thousands of applications it receives. Here Mickey Dolenz (Monkee) – March 8, 1945 are a few official records set in March: Liza Minnelli (actress) – March 12, 1946 2010 Widest unstretched mouth (17 cm or 6.69 in.) Michael Caine (actor) – March 14, 1933 2011 Fastest crossing of the Sahara desert by Ruth Bader Ginsburg (justice) – March 15, 1933 bicycle (13 days, 5 hours, 50 minutes) Moms Mabley (comedienne) – March 19, 1894 Bobby Orr (hockey player) – March 20, 1948 2020 Largest jar of jam (2,216 lbs) Harry Houdini (magician) – March 24, 1874 What’s Lucky in March? Danica Patrick (car racer) – March 25, 1982 Diana Ross (singer) – March 26, 1944 Lucky Color: Teal Mariah Carey (singer) – March 27, 1970 Lucky Animal: Ferret Lucky Letters: H and C Lady Gaga (singer) – March 28, 1986 Lucky Day: Wednesday Vincent van Gogh (artist) – March 30, 1853 Lucky Plant: Brussels sprouts Liz Claiborne (designer) – March 31, 1929

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