As I noted in my blog last year, March 1 is the birthday of the Roman poet Martial (Marcus Valerius Martialis). He was known for his witty epigrams, and he influenced English Renaissance poets such as Ben Jonson. Martial was a master of the short-and-not-necessarily-sweet.

In the old Roman calendar, March was the first month of the year, so new year celebrations started March 1 and sometimes lasted through the 15th (the Ides of March, though the Kalends is the 13th in some months).

Contemplating the new year and the coming spring is certainly more pleasant than "Bewaring the Ides of March."

(But March is still a great toga month, even if you need to wear a coat!)

Take care, and "think spring"!