Whether March winds and April showers will bring forth May flowers is still a hope away, but the facts behind the month’s name are fortunately more certain.
The name March is derived from the Roman “Martius“ named after Mars, the Roman god of war. In ancient Rome, March 1st marked the first day of spring, which coincided with the beginning of the calendar year and the start of the military campaign season – which may explain why soldiers “march into battle.” The Roman ruler, Numa Pompilius, added January and February to the calendar thus making March the third month of the year. While many have adopted the Gregorian calendar, some cultures and religions still celebrate the start of the New Year on March 1st.
(Is it true there used to be one more month called Mercedonius? The accurate answer is sometimes. Here’s the reason why.)
Hares mate during the month of March and a female hare may be seen “boxing” (striking another hare with their paws) off a male to prevent an act of procreation — hence “Mad as a March hare” – a phrase that appeared for the first time in Sir Thomas More’s “The supplycacyon of soulys,” published in 1529. Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, under the pseudonym Lewis Carroll, also referenced this annual event in 1865’s “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland“(often shortened to Alice in Wonderland) and the passage: “The March hare… as this is May, it won’t be raving mad – at least not so mad as it was in March.”
The Ides of March is a reference to the date Julius Caesar was stabbed to death in 44 B.C. and is observed on the 15th day of the month. Julius Caesar was many things good and bad, but did he deserve to have the month of July named after him? Read our explanation of the mess that defined the Roman calendar before Julius Caesar, here.
my web is about how you can help abused animals
I’m assuming then, that a rabbit and a hare are different species because I’ve heard people say that couples who are having many children are “breeding like rabbits”. Whereas “breeding like hares sounds like a dangerous prospect for the males. But then maybe they find the procreating is worth the beating.
My first period class is almost over, and i;m about to have to leave. comment
Somebody tell me how to put smiley faces down
I think that there is a difference between a hare and a rabbit. But a rabbit and a bunny are the same thing. This article is very interesting. And rcp, I agree with you.
-Raven Darkwing
9th grade
You’re Late For TEA!!!!!!
hmmmmmm IT AMAZING HOW MARCH GOT ITS NAME!!!!!!!!!!!!! OH N THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A HARE AND A RABBIT IS THAT A HARE IS MUCH SMALLER THAN A RABBIT N THATS THE ONLY FACT I KNOW 
Reply to Trixia:
Rabbits and hares are from the “lagomorph” family. There are only 3 members of this family – the third member is the pika.
Here are the main differences between hares and rabbits:
Hares are generally larger than rabbits, with longer legs and ears.
Hares give birth to “leverets” born with a full coat of hair and open-eyes. Rabbits give birth to “kits” born blind and hairless.
Another difference is, hares are generally solitary animals, whereas rabbits live in large family groups.
Also “bunny” is a general term for “rabbit” much in the same way as “kitty” is for a cat.
Hope this helps 
why are you all so into it omg thats stupid
like reading this is boring i go to saint raymond academy
i dont l
That is just hilarious. Information such as this just brightens my day even more, though I’m sure the poor guy is rolling over in his grave because of this. (Wait… Weren’t they cremated?)
In Britain it is all very simple. A rabbit, well many of them, dig burrows and procreate 24/7/365 and have many babies in a litter, perhaps seven or there abouts. The young are deaf, blind and hairless.
Hares do not dig at all but make nest on the ground and have only two babies (leverets) per year which are born ready to go right from the start.
Rabbits have short ears and hares have long ears.
Bunnies are pets. Ask Playboy.
Rabbits are smaller than hares, I believe, and they are in fact a different species. And bunnies are pets.
Thanks for the info, I haven’t really thought about where the month names came from before.. And what’s with the comments all about hares and rabbits? LOL
I always thought it was named after either Peggy or Frederick.
Was Bugs Bunny a rabbit or a hare? Since he’s so big and has such long ears, I’m guessing he’s a hare.
marcharse means gone march start walking marcho is gone for me it means the time to update files chose the best and say to the ones that do not attein grandeur go.for some reason march first is the time or the day when best leaders are chosen.every year on march first i say let see who is kissing the dust today which means who is leaving could be at home or abroad. thanks
Rabbit or Hare Stew is Good!!
how did “march” lead to rabbits and hares?
[...] got some visual aids today, Appropriately the IDES of MARCH, Et Tu Whatever. — In our collars don’t put starch. — And we’ve [...]
You guys at Dictionary.com must do something about those comments that are not intended to do any good to the article and meant only to play spoilsport; you must devise a way wherein these bad comments get filtered out and not displayed on the site.
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HA HA BLOB OBLITERATED YOU :s :s :s :s :s:s :)
SO HAPPY BLOB OBLITERATED YOU
Today is also the only commanding day of the year.
So if the month “March” was derived from “Marching” that’s why National Marching Band Day must be in March! Ah ha, I understand this now.
It feels good to know about rabbits and hares….time for some delicious rabbit meal
Rabbits are edible. Hares aint.
Hares are enormous compared to rabbits. A full grown hare can weigh more than 20 lbs, or 10 kilos.
OK, this post is on March and you guys are talking bunny
Hares should be just as edible as rabbits.
hey guys isnt mars like a planet?
lol that was weird
every year on march first i say let see who is kissing the dust today which means who is leaving could be at home or abroad
Read more at http://hotword.dictionary.com/march/#57SlgGuj2RUIB057.99
By the way, article’s headline: Is there a connection between March the month and “marching?” Question mark belongs outside the quotation mark, right?
I just love this dilshan
rabbits = stereotype that is too mainstream
bunnies = the fluffy things little things call them
hare = what alice in wonderland calls them
rabbit = stereotype that is too mainstream
bunny = the fluffy things little kids call them
hare = what alice in wonderland calls them
* the first one was a typo
Watevs
Watevs hu cares
I just love this dilshan
I never knew that females hares “boxed” off males trying to copulate…this changes everything! Bunnies aren’t just cool, they’re super cool!! And just wondering, are there any differences between a “hare,” “rabbit,” and “bunny”?