50+ Lifestyles

March Facts

By Jennifer Kohel

Monthly Observances

American Red Cross Month
Deaf History Month
Employee Spirit Month
Honor Society Awareness Month
National Caffeine Awareness Month
National Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Awareness Month
National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
Sing with Your Child Month
Women’s History Month

Weekly Observations

Newspaper in Education Week March 1-5
Iditarod Race March 6-21
Save your Vision Week March 7-13
Universal Women’s Week March 8-14
American Chocolate Week March 15-21
National Cleaning Week March 28-April 3
Holy Week March 28-April 3

St. Patrick’s Day Fun Facts

Parades
• First St. Patrick’s Day parade was held in Boston in 1737. Many Irish immigrants came to the US to express their ethnic pride with parades, banquets, pageants and dancing.
• New York City parade is the largest and most celebrated. It began in 1763 when a small group of Irish settlers banded together and followed each other from one tavern to the next.
• Popular Irish songs, such as “Danny Boy” and “Garryowen” are usually played during a St. Patrick’s Day parade.

Shamrocks
• Most popular symbol of the Irish.
• English name for it’s Gaelic name of “seamrog”
• St. Patrick is said to be standing in a field of shamrocks when he drove the snakes and toads away.
• The four leaves are said to symbolize:
One Leaf=Hope; One Leaf=Faith;
One Leaf=Love; One Leaf=Luck

Phobias associated with St. Patrick’s Day
Chromatophobia-The fear of colors or of green
Ochilophobia-The fear of crowds
Phonophobia-The fear of noises
Mythophobia-The fear of lying