PLEASE
CLICK HERE TO WRITE TO ALL FOR TODAY
John Canu's daily Internet (and
other, if any) activities
updated
Sunday 02-Mar-2003 3:48
UT
site safe for children
Friday
2003 Mar 14 is Julian 2452713
= 3 x 79 x 79 x 131
5763 adar-II 10
1995 magabit 05 1719 baramhat 05 1424 muharram 10
1924 phalguna 23 1381 esfand 23 211 ventôse
24 159 'ala 13
China-Republic - 92 - 02 - 12 // 78 - 20 / gui~wei Sheep - 02 -
12
12 baktun / 19 katun / 10 tun /
01 winal / 10 k'in //
09 - ok //
03 - kumk'u / g3
Julian 2003 Mar 01— MATRONALIA
CALENDAS MARTIS MMDCCLVI A.V.C
Explanation
of various calendars
01 March is the Roman New Year's
Day the beginning of Spring as well as the new sacral year. This day was known
as the Matronalia because Juno is the presiding deity of both the first day
of the year, and the year as a whole. Juno, the matron, or wife, of Jupiter,
is the mother of Mars. Juno, also called Saturnia and known as Hera by the
Greeks, was the daughter of Cronus (Saturn) and regarded as a paragon of motherly
virtues. She was the divinity of sacred marriage and childbirth.
The month of March belongs to Mars, the warlike
god who personifies the protection of the state and the agricultural and business
fecundity of the community. In this context Mars represents the terrestial
origin of life and the rhythm of the ensuing year. This day was considered
to be Mars' birthday. Mars was known to the Greeks as Ares, the god of war.
The war god was wild and ungovernable, a god who glorified in strife for its
own sake and revelled in slaughter. He was thought to gloat over the death
and destruction he caused. He was typically accompanied by his two sons Deimos
(Fear or Terror) and Phobos (Dismay or Flight from Fear). The Romans held
a milder, more honorable view of Mars, honoring him as the son of Zeus and
the father of Romulus.
On this day the priests of Mars, the sacrarium
Martis, would carry shields, leaping and dancing through the streets of Rome.
This spectacle would continue through March 24th.
The Kalends of March were the last day of what
came to be called Carnival, the period of celebration from the Terminalia
to this symbolic first day of Spring.