March might seem like one of those in-between months, but there are actually a lot of important celebrations for different cultures happening. Celebrate and learn more about Purim, Holi, St. Patrick's Day, spring equinox, Nowruz and the start of Ramadan! It's also a month where we transition from winter to spring, but you wouldn't know that here in Southern California where we tend to transition back and forth in the same week - although we've had a bit more winter weather than usual this year. The change of seasons isn't the only thing that's happening in March. Here are 12 holidays happening in March you can learn more about with your kids.
Anytime you are looking for FUN things to do with your family be sure and visit the Macaroni KID Conejo Valley - Malibu - Calabasas event calendar
Here are just a few of the significant days, holidays, events, and observances your family can celebrate, honor and learn more about in March:
 Al Ravenna, New York World-Telegram and the Sun staff photographer via Wikimedia |
Dr. Seuss' Birthday
March 2
Theodor Seuss Geisel (1904-1991), also known as Dr. Seuss, grew up in Springfield, Massachusetts. He's most famous as an author and illustrator of many classic children's books two of his most popular are Green Eggs and Ham and The Cat in the Hat although he wrote sooo many more. Many of his books have inspired animated shorts and movies. I'm a big Dr. Seuss fan as are my kids, my personal all-time favorite is And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street, but I have many more I love to read. What's your favorite Dr. Seuss book? One thing I remember as a child was the illustrations and for me that was a big part of my love for Dr. Seuss books.
Celebrate Dr. Seuss With a Cat in the Hat Craft
Learn more:
- Seussville
- Printable activities for kids
- Who is Ted Geisel?
- Dr. Seuss - American author and illustrator
- Biography - Dr. Seuss
- 6 facts about Dr. Seuss
- The Complete List of Books by Dr. Seuss
Another celebration on this same day is Read Across America Day and the start of Reading across America week. March also happens to be National Reading Month, many schools celebrate these "book themed" holidays each year. You can celebrate at home too - visit your local library to find some new favorites and read together as a family. Need some book suggestions? Read Across America: 50 Kids' Books Set in 50 States
 tomertu Getty Images via Canva |
Purim
March 6-7
The festival of Purim begins the evening of March 6th and ends at sundown on March 7th this year. Like all the Jewish holidays it begins and ends around sundown and since it follows the Jewish Calendar, the date changes from year to year, but typically lands in March, on occasion it can be celebrated as early as February. Purim is a fun and festive Jewish holiday with special ceremonies and traditions including festive foods, dressing in costume, attending festive celebrations, carnivals, eating hamantaschen, triangle shaped cookies and lots of noise making! Please know you don't need to be Jewish to join in the local festivities or celebrate at home with fun activities and yummy treats. Visit the Macaroni KID Conejo Valley - Malibu - Calabasas event calendar for the most up to date celebrations and carnivals.
Purim Events - check the Macaroni KID Calendar
- Chabad - Children's guide to Purim
- Purim Coloring Pages & Crafts
- Homemade Purim Costume Ideas
- Purim Recipes for Kids
- Chocolate-Filled Funfetti Hamantaschen
- Purim Foods
PJ Library - Celebrating Purim With Your Family
- The Purim Story for Kids
- The Story of Purim in ASL by Douglas Ridloff video
- Purim-Themed MadLibs download
- Purim finger-puppets
- Super Easy Hamantaschen Recipes to Make With Kids
- 18 Great Ideas for Purim: Easy costumes, hamantaschen recipes and graggers (noisemakers)
Festival of Holi
March 8
This one - two celebration is a Hindu spring festival known to many as the Festival of Colors! Holi has a rich history, celebrated in India and all over the world. It celebrates the triumph of good over evil and the changing of the seasons from winter to spring.
Learn more:
- Holi, The Hindu Festival of Colors, Is Celebrated With Vibrant Hues And Flavors
- Holi: Festival of Colors
- Holi is a Hindu festival celebrating the start of spring - download toolkit to learn about Holi
- Holi 50 Activity Book
- Let's Celebrate Holi! - Maya & Neel's India Adventure Series
National Girl Scout Day
March 12
Hard to believe that the Girl Scouts have been around 111 years! If you are not familiar with the history - Juliette Gordon Low (nicknamed "Daisy") started the Girl Scouts in her hometown of Savannah, Georgia in 1912 with a troop of 18 girls who believed they could do Anything! The history of the Girl Scouts is even more remarkable given they began during a time when women in the United States were not yet able to vote and there were limited expectations for what girls and women could accomplish. Way back when I was in first grade I joined the Girl Scouts, starting out as a Brownie . . . then a Junior and finally a Cadet I have wonderful memories of all I learned, the camping trips, the friends and so much more. One thing I remember doing at every meeting as a Brownie was saying grace before snacks and singing songs like the Brownie Smile Song and Make New Friends.
It's Cookie-Time, well in my house it's always cookie time, but I meat Girl Scout Cookie time! You don't have to be a Girl Scout or even a Girl to love their cookies! Girl Scout Cookie Sales are ongoing through at least March 13th. Next time you head to the market you might just find them out in front selling their tasty treats - consider supporting a local troop with your purchase or donation. They've gone techie since I was a scout, click on the link above to find where you can buy cookies near you or use the app.
Do you have a daughter who might be interested in joining?
- Girl Scouts of California’s Central Coast including Ventura County
- Girl Scouts Greater Los Angeles
You don't have to be a scout or even a girl to enjoy fun camp songs or learn to tie essential knots:
Learn more about the History of the Girl Scouts:
- The Very First Troop Leader - Juliette Gordon Low: The Remarkable Founder of the Girl Scouts
- Timeline: Girl Scouts in History - More Than a Century of Making a Difference
- Girl Scout History - From 18 girls in Savannah to a global movement to make a difference.
- The Girl Scout Uniform Through the Decades
 izzzy71 from Getty Images via Canva |
Daylight Saving Time Starts
March 12 at 2:00 am
It's that time of year again when we spring forward setting our clocks ahead an hour. With the sun setting an hour later we have more daylight-time for fun outdoor activities! Not sure about you, but I'm in the love it category, but I know many who do not. Love It or Hate It ~ Daylight Saving Time Arrives March 1, 2023.
 Getty Images Pro via Canva |
St. Patrick's Day
March 17
It's time to make an elaborate leprechaun trap! Maybe this will be the year your kids catch hold of that little troublemaker. Looking for St. Patrick's Day crafts and rainbow inspired snacks for kids? Don't forget to wear something "green!"
☘️ Is the shamrock a myth? The truth behind 5 St. Patrick’s Day symbols
St. Patrick's Day events: Check the Macaroni KID event Calendar
Are you looking for more ways to Celebrate St. Patrick's Day?
☘️ Check out these three fun and easy crafts!
☘️ Macaroni Kid Crafts: The Best Playdough Recipe
☘️ 3-ingredient “Lucky Leprechaun” Cookie-Candy Bark
☘️ Get Your Shamrock On: 3 Corned Beef Recipes For St. Patrick's Day
☘️ 17 Ways to Celebrate St. Patrick's Day With Kids 💚
☘️ St. Patrick's Day Fun - Kid-Approved: Slime, Modeling Dough and a Trap 💚
☘️ Celebrate St. Patrick's Day with a Rainbow of Smoothies 🌈
☘️ Macaroni Menu: Rainbow Fruit Skewers with Yogurt Dip 🌈
☘️ Easy Rainbow Activities To Do With Kids 🌈
First Day of Spring
March 20
Springtime is coming, yeah! The first day of spring is also known as the spring equinox, watch the National Geographic video above to learn about equinoxes.
Read more Almanac and Farmers Almanac.
Thinking about Spring cleaning?
- Back-to-Basics Spring Cleaning - A more Natural Approach 🍋
- 3 Printables to Make Spring Cleaning a Breeze
- 8 Ways to Get Kids to Help with Chores
- Get a Jump on Spring Cleaning with these 80 Things to Declutter NOW!
 creativeelixir Getty Images via Canva |
Nowruz the Persian New Year
March 20-21
The first day of spring is also a time when many people around the world celebrate Nowruz (pronounced NO-rooz), it means “New Day” in Farsi. You might be more familiar with it as the Persian New Year, it’s celebrated by millions of people worldwide including the U.S. but especially in Iran (formerly called Persia) and other countries throughout the Middle East and Central Asia.
Families celebrate Nowruz by cleaning their homes and having a big feast. A table is usually arranged with seven items that start with the letter "s" in the Persian language - such as sprouts (sabzeh) and dried fruit (senjed). Each item symbolizes a principle, such as love or rebirth. Some people also exchange gifts or attend street festivals to ring in the new year.
More about Nowruz:
- Happy Nowruz! Celebrate Spring and a Brand New Year with Your Family!
- Persian Mama: Nowruz - Persian New Year
- Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art: A New Day - Celebrating Nowruz
- National Geographic: How different countries celebrate Nowruz, the Persian New Year
- Iran Chamber Society: No-Rooz, The Iranian New Year at Present Times
 DenisKuvaev via Canva |
World Down Syndrome Day
March 21
World Down Syndrome Day is observed the 21st of March each year to signify the uniqueness of the triplication (trisomy) of the 21st chromosome causing Down syndrome. On this day, people with Down syndrome, along with their families and friends, participate in activities and events to raise public awareness and advocate for people with Down syndrome. March also happens to be Developmental Disabilities Awareness month.
Helpful Macaroni KID articles:
- 5 Great Kid Books Featuring Characters With Developmental Disabilities
- 'Aaron Slater, Illustrator' Shows Being You Is What Matters
- Embracing Disability: Tips From a Mom
- 3 Tips to Help Your Child Embrace Disability
- Raising Joey: One Mom's Story of Having a Child With Down Syndrome
- My Story: Parenting THAT Child
- 🥰 Celebrating Our Children With Down Syndrome
- Tips for Talking With Your Kids About Autism
- The Santa Barbara Zoo is Now a Certified Autism Center (CAC)
Ramadan
March 22 - April 21
This year the holy month of Ramadan begins at sunset on March 22nd and ends the evening of April 21st, since Muslim holidays follow the Islamic calendar the dates change from year to year. For Muslims around the world this month of fasting is also a time to focus on faith and helping others. The observances include daily prayer, reflection, community, and fasting from sunrise to sunset. As the sun sets the daily fast is broken with prayers and a meal, often shared with family and friends. It also commemorates the time of year when the prophet Mohammad receives the Quran, the holy book for Muslims. Ramadan starts from one sighting of the crescent moon to the next.
- 5 Ways to Celebrate and Learn about Ramadan With Kids
- Ramadan from History.com
- Key Ramadan 2023 Dates At A Glance
- Watch this video with your family to learn more about Ramadan
 Johnrob from Getty Images Signature via Canva |
National Vietnam War Veterans Day
March 29
This is a day to commemorate and honor all the men and women who served our country during the Vietnam War. Support our local Veterans! Find a local organizations that support Veterans or contact local Senior organizations, Assisted Living facilities and Nursing homes as they often have many residents who are Veterans, please do call ahead to see what is allowed at this time. See a Veteran? Thank them for their service and teach your children to do the same!
 By Joel Levine - Provided by photographer via email., CC BY 3.0, httpscommons.wikimedia.orgwindex.phpcurid=6265009 |
Cesar Chavez Day
March 31
Cesar Chavez (1927-1993), was born on March 31st in Yuma Arizona he is known to many as a Mexican-American folk hero. He left Arizona for California with his parents, they were farm workers. Later when he was older he joined them working in the fields of California. He's most know for his community activism, civil rights work, non-violent fights for the rights of farmworkers, later co-founding the United Farm Workers organization that still protects workers to this day. He drew inspiration from great leaders Martin Luther King Jr. and Mahatma Gandhi.
Please note: Cesar Chavez Day is also a State of California Holiday, some public offices and libraries are closed this day.
Learn more:
- Library of Congress: Cesar Chavez
- Cesar Chavez Foundation
- Cesar Chavez: The Life Behind A Legacy Of Farm Labor Rights
- United Farm Workers - The Story of Cesar Chavez
- Workers United: The Delano Grape Strike and Boycott
In addition to honoring Cesar Chavez, March 31st is also National Farm Workers Day and the end of National Farm Workers Week March 25-31 (this year.) Pretty much everything we eat is brought to us by men and women working hard, braving the heat and the cold on farms not just in California, but across our nation and all over the world. The next time you have something tasty to eat - take a moment to think about their hard work for you and your family and the significant contributions they make to our world.
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Take a look at the Macaroni KID Conejo Valley - Malibu - Calabasas calendar for a list of family-friendly events happening in Agoura Hills, Calabasas, Malibu, Newbury Park, Oak Park, Thousand Oaks, Newbury Park, Westlake Village and in nearby areas in Ventura and Los Angeles Counties.
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