* 3/1 eve to 3/4 eve: Anthesteria--Old Greek festival honoring Dionysos as Plouton, God of the Dead, and welcoming the visiting dead from Elysium.
* 3/1 to 3/6: Holi--Hindu festival celebrating the courting of God Shiva by Goddess Parvati, and the efforts on Her behalf by Kama (God of Love) and Rati (Goddess of Passion).
* 3/3 eve to 3/5 eve: Jewish fast of Esther, Shabbat, and fest of Purim--Recalls a planned massacre of Persian Jews and their deliverance by Queen Esther; time for helping those in need.
* 3/5 (1:06 p.m. EST): Full Moon (Leaf/Seedling Moon).
* 3/5: Old Romano-Egyptian festival honoring Goddess Isis as Lady of the Moon and Ruler of the Sea.
* 3/5: Day commemorating the birth of Taoist Lao-Tzu (570? BCE). Taoists live simply and tranquilly, respect life, and recognize the equality of all.
* 3/5 to 3/13: Navajo Sing--Festival in which fields are blessed in preparation for planting. Navajos believe Estsanatlehi/Changing Woman wields the power to constantly create and change the world.
* 3/7: Mindfulness Day--Zen Buddhist day for being mindful that you are connected to each and every sentient being that has ever existed.
* 3/8 (2:00 a.m.): Daylight Savings Time begins - set clocks ahead 1 hour.
* 3/10 eve to 3/17 eve: Lesser Eleusinian Mysteries--Old Greek festival celebrating the marriage of Goddess Kore and God Dionysos, following their return from Elysium.
* 3/14: Sikh New Year (Nanakshahi Era 547 begins).
* 3/15: Christian feast of Blessed Mary, partner of St. Joseph and mother of Blessed Jesus - honors her as nurturer, teacher, protector, and guide of all mothers.
* 3/15 to 3/21: Old Anglo-Teutonic festival of Goddess Ostara, celebrating the annual rebirth. Her Hare gave gifts of eggs - signifying rebirth.
* 3/17: St. Patrick's Day--Old European festival marking rebirth of the Green Man (God as deciduous vegetation); merged with the Christian feast of St. Patrick.
* 3/19: Yoruba/Santeria feast of Osanyin, Orisha of Deciduous Vegetation.
* 3/19: Christian feast of St. Joseph, partner of Blessed Mary and foster-father of Blessed Jesus - honors him as nurturer, teacher, protector, and guide of all fathers.
* 3/19 to 3/23: Old Roman festival of Goddess Minerva - as font of artistic inspiration.
* 3/20 (5:36 a.m. EDT): New Moon.
*
3/20 (6:45 p.m. EDT): Spring Equinox--Marks the beginning of Spring and point of equal daylight and darkness; celebrates first, annual, and perpetual Creation with egg hunts and exchanges.
* 3/20: Old Slavic Jare--God Jarilo reunites with Goddess Morana. Their love and happiness bring the world light, warmth, and fertility.
* 3/20 to 3/23: Iroquois Thunder Ceremony--in thanksgiving for the rains. Iroquois believe Awenhai/Sky Woman descended from the Sky and created Earth.
* 3/21: Zoroastrian New Year and celebration of Divine Spirit Asha Vahishta, creator and protector of fire.
* 3/21: Nowruz--Persian New Year.
* 3/21: Beginning of Aries (the Ram/Ewe/Lamb).
* 3/21: Taoist festival honoring the Shen (Deities) of Water, East, and Spring; prayers are made for growth. Taoists seek enlightenment and live in harmony with Nature.
* 3/21: Haru-no-Higan--Day Japanese Buddhists mark the time of change by meditating on the impermanence of death.
* 3/21: World Forest Day--Day to celebrate the complex living community of trees, plants, birds, and mammals that live in forests world-wide.
* 3/21 to 3/28: Navaratri--Hindu festival honoring Great Goddess Maha Devi as Gauri - life, growth, and fruition. Tantric Hindus recognize gender equality and reject caste.
* 3/22: World Water Day--Day to recognize the world's dependence on clean fresh water.
* 3/25: Yoruba/Santeria feast of Oshun, Orisha of Passion and Fertility.
* 3/25 (OC 4/7): Annunciation Day--Christian feast commemorating Blessed Mary's fiat - choosing to conceive Child Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit.
* 3/25 eve to 3/26 eve: Feast of Old Greek Goddess Artemis - as protector of wild animals, vegetation, and places.
* 3/26: Birthday of Joseph Campbell (1904), who found Deity within all religions and myths.
* 3/26 to 4/4: Navapad Oli--Jain period of fasting, recitation of holy scripture, and meditation on the principles of right knowledge, right faith, right conduct, and right penance.
* 3/27 to 3/28: Ramanavami‑‑Birthday of Hindu God Rama (avatar of Vishnu), protector of beloved wife, Goddess Sita (avatar of Lakshmi).
* 3/28: Death day of Scott Cunningham (1993), who taught a reverent, ethical, egalitarian, and ecological form of Wicca.
* 3/29 (OC 4/5): Palm Sunday--Christian feast marking Savior Jesus' entrance into Jerusalem to teach love and justice for all humanity and to sacrifice Himself for the liberation and redemption of all.
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Permission to use and distribute these excerpts is granted for non-commercial purposes, provided the following information is included:
Excerpted fromTHE MYSTIC'S WHEEL OF THE YEAR 2015A Multifaith Calendar Reflecting Eco-Egalitarian Spirituality© 2014 Marija Miovskiwww.WheeloftheYear.com
