March is the third (3rd) month of the Gregorian calendar. The Biblical calendar observes a 13 month leap year every two or three years. Since the Biblical Civil year 5776 is a leap year, it has 13 months because of the intercalated 12th and 13th months Adar 1 and Adar II. From 11th March to 8th April marks Adar II the seventh (7th) month following the Biblical civil calendar and the thirteenth (13th) and final month of the Biblical Sacred calendar.

Purim will be celebrated this month from. 13th-15th Adar II 5776 (23-25 March 2016). The Feast of Purim commemorates Queen Esther and Mordecai’s victory over Haman and those who wanted to annihilate the Jewish people in the Babylonian Empire. Their story is recorded in the Book of Esther.

March derived its name from ancient Rome. It was then the first month of the ancient Roman calendar which was dedicated to “Martius” after Mars, the Roman god of war. This is the period when winter is ending and the first flush of spring manifests in the northern hemisphere.

In Roman mythology, Quirinus is a Sabine god of war, also identified with Mars. He was the god of the state of Rome and the father of Romus and Romulus who was the founder and first king of Rome. The city of Rome celebrates her birthday on 21st March.

According to Greek mythology, March is named after Mars and is also identified with the Greek god of war – Eres, who exalts bloodshed and violence. Other names for Eres are “The Avenger,” “The Slayer” and “The Curse.” The spear is his emblem; the dog and vulture are his sacred animals.

This is the spring season ―when kings go to war‖ according to 2 Samuel 11.1. It is a season of protracted warfare.

The first supermoon of 2016 also presents the first eclipse of the year, a total eclipse of the sun on 8-9th March 2016, visible from Indonesia and the Pacific. The Vernal Equinox which ushers into the gates of Spring will occur on 20th March 2016.