MARCH, the third month of the year, consisting of 31 days. It is named for Mars, the Roman god of war and, originally, of vegetation. In ancient Rome, March was the first month, marking the renewal of agriculture and of military campaigning. With the Gregorian calendar, adopted in 1582, January was made the first month. March’s birthstones are aquamarine and bloodstone, and its zodiac signs are Pisces and Aries. The vernal equinox, heralding the start of spring, comes on March 21. Holidays around the world include:

3月，一年中的第3个月，由31天组成。它是以罗马战神玛尔斯（火星）命名，而最初是植物之神。在古罗马，3月是第1个月，标志着农业和军事活动的恢复。随着在1582年采用公历，1月被定为第1个月。3月的诞生石是海蓝宝石和血石，而它的星座是双鱼座和白羊座。3月21日为春分，预示着春天的开始。世界各地的假日包括：

March 1: St. David’s Day, honoring the patron saint of Wales, who founded many churches.

3月1日：圣-大卫节，纪念威尔士的守护神，他建立了许多教堂的。

March 17: St. Patrick’s Day, honoring the patron saint of Ireland, with displays of the shamrock and “wearing the green.”

3月17日：圣-帕特里克节，以展示三叶草和“穿着绿色”纪念爱尔兰的守护神。

March 19: St. Joseph’s Day in Italy, celebrated with bonfires on the eve before and acts of generosity during the day.

3月19日：意大利的圣-约瑟夫节，在节日的前夜燃起篝火，在白天慷慨大方地庆祝。

March 25: annunciation, or Lady Day, commemorating the announcement by the angel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary that she would become the mother of Jesus.

3月25日：天使报喜，或叫天使报喜节，纪念天使加百利向圣母玛利亚宣告，她将成为耶稣的母亲。

In north India at the full moon in March, bonfires inaugurate the festival of Holi, celebrating the wheat harvest. In late March, the Chinese observe Ching-Ming (“clear brightness”) with rituals symbolizing fertility and honoring the dead with offerings of food and willow branches. On the last Sunday before Lent, rural Poles observe Marzanna Day, on which straw dolls representing the goddess of death are carried on sticks and drowned in streams. Similar customs of “killing” winter are observed in other northern countries.

在印度北方，在3月满月时，为胡里节燃起篝火，庆祝小麦丰收。在3月下旬，中国人用象征繁衍的仪式庆祝清明节（“清明”），并摆祭品和柳枝纪念逝者。在大斋节前的最后一个星期日，波兰的乡村庆祝溺死雪女节，代表死亡女神的稻草玩偶被放在树枝上，淹没在溪流中。在其它的北方国家也可看到类似的“杀”冬习俗。

                                    SULA BENET, Hunter College

                                    苏拉·贝尼特，亨特学院

                                         2024年2月4日译

（译者注：该词条位列《大美百科全书》1985年版，第18卷，第301页）