Windy Days – March is known for its windy days. It is a great month to fly a kite
Sidewalk Chalk– Take advantage of a mild day and head outside to draw on the sidewalk with chalk. Kids love to have their whole body outlined and then fill in the drawing with clothes and a face. If you still have ice or snow outside try white or colored chalk inside on construction paper or brown wrapping paper. The drawings can be made permanent, so they won’t rub off, by spraying with aerosol hair spray (best to spray outside, and certainly away from the children).
March 9 – Ash Wednesday – Ash Wednesday, in Christian churches, is the first day of the penitential season of Lent. On Ash Wednesday some Christians have a smudge of ashes placed on their foreheads at Church as a sign of penitence.
March 13 Daylight Saving Time Be sure to set the clocks forward one hour! Don’t be late for work!
March 17 – St. Patrick’s Day – St. Patrick is said to have given a sermon from a hilltop that drove all the snakes from Ireland. St. Patrick’s Day has been celebrated in the US since 1737. Traditional icons of the day are the shamrock, leprechaun, the color green and the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. In Chicago, they city celebrates with a parade and the Chicago River is dyed green! There is a big parade in New York City.
March 20 – Today is the first day of spring! Take a walk outside and look for signs of spring – swelling buds on the trees, flowers poking up from the ground, more birds back in the trees. Take the kids to the Compo Beach Playground and enjoy the view. After this rough winter most of Westport will be down there!
March 20 Purim –The Festival of Purim is one of the most joyous and fun holidays on the Jewish calendar. There are four commandments for Purim: the reading of the story of Esther, festivity and rejoicing, sending gifts (usually food), and gifts to the poor. It is customary to dress in costume for the celebration. (Note: all Jewish holidays begin at sundown and end the following day at sundown.)