During the month of February, a strong surge of arctic air dropped south across the Plains bringing devastating snow and ice storms and record low temperatures of -30 to -40 in the Northern Plains.  The New Orleans area saw temperatures plunge to 29 degrees on Lundi Gras shortly before midnight, tying the record low for Feb. 15th. Conditions bottomed out on Mardi Gras Day to a low of 26 degrees, breaking the previous record low of 29 degrees set in 1963.  Fortunately, there has been a drastic upswing in temperature and it’s finally starting to feel like Spring! I’m always cold by nature and have a heater set to the highest temperature under my desk every day of the year, so I’m eagerly bidding goodbye to this year’s harsh, teeth chattering winter, and ready for warmer days. I absolutely love the month of March! It brings the promise of longer days, shorter nights and warmer weather.  In addition to celebrating Saint Patrick’s Day and Basketball’s March Madness, there are several interesting facts about the month of March that I felt compelled to share:

March was Celebrated as Happy New Year in Ancient Rome
According to the oldest Roman calendars, one year was ten months long, beginning in March and ending in December. It may sound crazy, but you can still see traces of this old system in our modern calendar: because December was the tenth month, it was named for the number ten in Latin (decem), just like September was named for seven (septem). So, what about January and February? They were just two nameless months called “winter,” proving that winter is literally so awful it doesn’t even deserve a spot on the calendar.

Beware the Ides of March!
The Ides of March is the 74th day in the Roman calendar, corresponding to the 15^th of March. It was marked by several religious observances and was notable for the Romans as a deadline for settling debts.  In 44 BC, it became notorious as the date of the assassination of Julies Caesar which made the Ides of March a turning point in Roman history.  Legend surrounds this ill-fated day, so beware the Ides of March!

The Spring Equinox
The equinox is the moment in time when the Sun stands directly above the equator and day and night are of approximately equal length. For the northern hemisphere, the spring equinox will take place at 4:37 a.m. on March 20^th and during this moment, winter will officially end and spring will begin.

As we officially kiss this cold winter goodbye and transition to Spring, remember to spend some extra time outdoors soaking up the sun.  If you have limited leisure time or if you are still looking to socially distance, visit your local Planet Beach to get your necessary dose of UV Therapy!  In addition to UV, Planet Beach offers a variety of automated spray and spa services in a private setting that will rejuvenate your mind and body.  Indulge in the Magic of March by visiting your local Planet Beach and receive your first session free.  To find a location near you, visit https://planetbeach.com/spa-locator/.

Source: https://www.rd.com/article/month-of-march-facts/

Written By: Jodie Mateu, VP of Special Events & Productivity