What happens in Mars, Stays in March?

Ready to travel back in time and step into the sandals of Roman rulers? Ever wondered why March is called March? Is it really named after Mars, or is that just a cosmic coincidence? Who was Martius? And why do Martians come from Mars?

Well, what happens in Mars… stays in March. No idea what that means? Don’t worry—we’re about to unravel the mystery.

Romulus’ Bright Idea

Back in ancient Rome, when togas were all the rage and Julius Caesar wasn’t just a salad, there was this legendary guy named Romulus—yeah, the founder of Rome, the kidnapper of the Sabine women, and the mastermind behind some pretty wild ideas, including how to organize the Roman calendar. Maybe it was all that divine destiny, or maybe being raised on wolf milk gave him an overconfidence boost, but Romulus had thoughts on how time should work.

March: The Perfect Starter

Romulus, being the practical guy that he was, figured, “You know what? Let’s start the year when things start getting lively again—when winter’s finally taking a hike and spring is peeking around the corner.” And just like that, March became the head honcho of the Roman calendar.

This early Roman calendar consisted of ten months, totaling 304 days. The other months in the Roman calendar were:

Named After Mars, the War God

March was the time when farmers were itching to till their fields, flowers were starting to bloom, and, oh yeah, it was prime time for kicking off military campaigns. So, Romulus was like, “March it is, folks!” It was named after Mars, the god of war, because, you know, Romans were all about that conquering business.

Numa: The Peacemaker Who Switched Things Up

But not everyone was all about the battlefield. Enter Numa Pompilius, Rome’s second king and the guy who thought maybe—just maybe—Rome should chill out a little. Unlike Romulus, who was all about expansion and war, Numa was a peacemaker. He reshaped Roman traditions, introduced a bunch of religious rituals, and, most importantly for our story, added two new months to the calendar: January and February.

Wait… The Calendar Only Had 10 Months?

Yep! That’s what we were explaining earlier! Romulus’ original calendar kicked off in March and wrapped up in December, making it a neat 10-month system. But here’s the catch—there were no official months for winter. Timekeeping just kind of… stopped. The Romans didn’t track the cold, dark months because, well, there wasn’t much happening—no farming, no wars, just waiting for better weather.

Numa’s Big Fix

Numa, being a man of order, wasn’t a fan of this timekeeping black hole. So, he added January and February to acknowledge the winter period and make the calendar align better with the lunar cycle. This also helped schedule religious festivals properly because if there’s one thing Romans took seriously (besides conquering), it was their gods.

Julius Caesar’s Calendar Remix

Fast forward a bit, and Julius Caesar, another big shot in Roman history, decides it’s time to shake things up.

After Numa Pompilius introduced January and February to the calendar party, Caesar decided to bump March down to third place. But you know what they say—you can take March out of the top spot, but you can’t take the warrior spirit out of it.

March: The OG Kickoff Month

Even though March got demoted a bit, its legacy as the OG kickoff month stuck around. It’s still a time of renewal, growth, and maybe a little bit of war… metaphorically speaking, of course.

So, next time you’re flipping through your calendar, give March a little nod of respect for being the trailblazer it is. But wait—was March really born with the Romans, or did the idea of a “starter month” exist before them?

Romans Didn’t Invent Timekeeping Anyway!

Turns out, timekeeping goes way back—way before Rome was even a thing. So, how did ancient civilizations mark the beginning of the year? And more importantly, did they also name their months after war gods, or were they a little less… dramatic?

Pre-Romulus Timekeeping

Before Romulus and his calendar shenanigans, civilizations across the ancient world had their own ways of tracking time—some practical, some downright mind-bending. Egyptians, Greeks, and Babylonians? They had their own systems, each with unique twists to keep life (and taxes) in order. But what about other parts of the world?

Timekeeping in the Americas

The Mayans were absolute calendar wizards, juggling two systems at once—one lunar, one solar. Their 260-day ritual calendar (Tzolk’in) worked alongside a 365-day agricultural calendar (Haab’) to keep both their spiritual and farming schedules in check.

The Aztecs followed a similar setup, with their Tonalpohualli (260-day religious calendar) and Xiuhpohualli (365-day solar calendar) working together like clockwork.

What About the Incas in Peru?

And then there were the Incas, who tracked time through a solar calendar based on the movement of the sun. They used stone pillars to mark solstices and equinoxes, ensuring they knew exactly when to celebrate Inti Raymi, the festival of the sun god Inti. No written records? No problem—Incas used quipus (knotted cords) to record important dates and data.

Timekeeping in Asia and Africa

Meanwhile, over in China, people had been tracking time for centuries using a lunisolar calendar, combining both the sun and the moon’s cycles to determine the best times for planting, harvesting, and celebrating. The famous Chinese Zodiac? Yep, it comes from this ancient system.

Meanwhile, in Africa!

Across Africa, different cultures also had unique ways of measuring time. The ancient Egyptians, for example, based their calendar on the Nile’s flooding cycle, which was crucial for their survival. Meanwhile, Ethiopian and Berber calendars still operate on timelines very different from the Gregorian system we use today.

So… Why Did Rome’s Calendar Win?

So, with so many advanced civilizations crafting their own calendars, how did Rome’s version outlast them all? Was it just Roman stubbornness, or did they actually refine timekeeping in a way that made sense for the world? Spoiler: It wasn’t perfect, but it stuck.

And that, my friend, is where our next journey begins. Because if you think Romulus and Numa had the final say, wait till you hear what Julius Caesar and Pope Gregory did to time. Well… that’s a story for another article.

Before Rome Ruled Time…

But here’s the thing—Rome’s calendar didn’t appear out of nowhere. Before the Romans settled on their system, most ancient cultures were obsessed with lunar calendars. They seemed logical, predictable, and easy to track. But were they actually practical?

Lunar Calendar Craze

Now, imagine this: lunar calendars were all the rage. These calendars were like, “Yo, let’s base our months on the phases of the moon!” So, you’d have around 12 months, each one tied roughly to a full cycle of the moon. But here’s the kicker: since lunar months are a tad shorter than a full solar year, these calendars had to get creative to keep up with the seasons.

March, Before March

And as for March? Well, it wasn’t always the March we know and love today. Different cultures had their own takes on months, so while some might have had a month kinda like March, it might not have been named the same or had the same vibe.

Mesopotamian Calendar Quirks

Take Mesopotamia, for example. The Babylonians had their own lunar calendar with 12 months, but it wasn’t a carbon copy of the Roman deal. Actually, it should have been the other way around—Rome’s calendar borrowed a lot from the Babylonians, who had been fine-tuning their lunar system long before Rome even existed.

Egyptian Calendar Secrets

And don’t even get me started on the ancient Egyptians—they had their own calendar game going on too, totally different from what the Romans were cooking up.

March and Beyond

So, long story short, yeah, other ancient peeps were counting months, but it was like a whole mixed bag of flavors. The concept of “March” as we know it today—springtime vibes and all—was pretty much a Roman invention, courtesy of Romulus and his crew.

Mars Meant Wars!

That’s right! To the Romans, March (Martius) was more than just a month—it was a tribute to Mars, the Roman god of war. According to Roman mythology, Mars was believed to be the father of Romulus and Remus, the legendary founders of Rome. As a result, Mars held immense significance in Roman culture, and March was dedicated to honoring him.

Mars: The God & the Planet!

Now, here’s where it gets interesting—the name “Martius” for the month of March and “Mars” as the name of the Roman god of war (and the planet) share the same root word, “Mārs.”

This connection underscores the deep association between the month of March and the war deity in Roman belief. The exact origin of the name “Mars” is a bit murky, but it’s thought to have stemmed from an ancient Italic deity associated with agriculture and fertility.

March Was Indeed for Wars!

Over time, Mars evolved into more than just a deity associated with agriculture. He became synonymous with war, embodying qualities like strength, courage, and military prowess. March was chosen to honor Mars because it signaled the renewal of life and the resumption of military activities after the winter lull.

As farmers prepared their fields for planting, so too did warriors gear up for battle. Hence, the name “Martius” for March was fitting—a tribute to the war god and a symbol of vitality and renewal.

“Martius” for “Mars”

So, essentially, the names “Martius” for March and “Mars” for the god of war are intricately linked, reflecting the Roman reverence for power, conquest, and the cyclical nature of life. It’s all about honoring the legacy of Mars and the warrior spirit that defined Roman culture.

Romans weren’t just about conquering nations; they were also big on conquering calendars! Got it? It was all about power. Time is money & money is time and makes things happen. Business as usual: Same shit, different time! Let’s understand now why New Year was not in January.

New Year’s in March

Once upon a time, as you may know, they use to celebrate New Year’s in March. Yeah, read our article to understand how Romans celebrated New Year’s. You may get to find out if Romans were really romantic or not.

Check out our Leap Day section to discover the real reason behind Romans adding an extra day to February every four years. Let’s dive deep into the rabbit hole to understand the universe’s mystery.

Some Spanish Romance

Speaking of mysteries, Love is a mystery that Spanish speakers solved a long time ago. Check out our blog for some Spanish Romance—not Romans, of course.

Sexy Spanish Romance

Want to add some romance to your Spanish vocabulary? Dive into our blog sections: ‘Things Spanish People Say in Bed’ and “El Sexi Chupacabras”. There, you’ll uncover sensual phrases, including how to express ‘I love you’ in Spanish and much more.

Looking for a Laugh & not Love?

Looking for a language-related laugh? While phrases like ‘¡Feliz Año Nuevo!’ or ‘¡Me Gusta la Chucha de tu Madre!’ might raise a smile, it’s important to approach language learning with respect and cultural sensitivity. Embrace the diversity of languages and immerse yourself in the lively Spanish-speaking world.

Interested in Legends and Folklore?

Explore our ‘Legends & Folktales’ section, where you’ll find stories about mythical beings like la Santa Muerte, la Llorona, la Ciguapa, El Sexi Chupacabras, and others from Hispanic tradition.

Curious about the Easter season? Check out our ‘Pascua’ section for articles related to the eggy season. And be sure to read our ‘About’ section to discover our passion for teaching and don’t forget the complimentary lessons at Kasa de Franko.

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