March: In 1987 after being petitioned by the National Women’s History Project, Congress passed Pub. L. 100-9 which designated the month of March as “Women’s History Month.”
March 1-5: Carnaval, is a 5-day celebration in many Latin American and Caribbean countries. The actual dates change yearly but it kicks off the Saturday before Catholic Lent and ends on Fat Tuesday (Mardi-Gras). Carnaval is celebrated exuberantly with parades, floats and dancing in the streets.
March 1: 1780 - Pennsylvania becomes 1st US state to abolish slavery for newborns.
March 2: 1807 - US Congress bans the slave trade within the US.
March 8: International Women's Day honors working women everywhere, celebrating their economic, political, and social achievements. This day is also the anniversary of the 1857 garment and textile workers' strike in New York, one of the first organized actions by women anywhere.
March 9: Baron Bliss Day (Belize). Honors the Englishman Sir Henry Edward Ernest Victor Bliss, who left his entire fortune to the city of Belize.
March 15: 1493 - Christopher Columbus returns to Spain after his first voyage to the New World.
March 16: 1827 - Publication of the First Black Newspaper in America. Samuel Cornish and John B. Russwurm debuted Freedom's Journal, the first African-American-owned and operated newspaper published in the United States. All 103 issues have been digitized and are available at the Wisconsin Historical Society website.
March 17: Saint Patrick's Day, patron saint of Ireland. In the late 4th century, at age 16 he was captured by Irish pirates from his home in Great Britain and taken as a slave to Ireland. He escaped but later returned to convert the Irish to Christianity.
March 20-21: Nowruz marks the first day of Iranian/Persian new year, occurring on the vernal equinox. It’s a period of celebration that typically lasts thirteen days. Iranians arrange traditional music, food, and celebration. On the last day of Nowruz, people try to spend the day out of the house.
March 21: Birth of Benito Juarez. One of the national heroes of Mexico, Juarez served his country as president during the turbulent period from 1855 until his death, and instituted a number of civil reforms.
March 22: 1873 - Puerto Rico Emancipation Day. Slaves in Puerto Rico were freed on this date.
March 24: 1837 - Canada gives its black citizens the right to vote.
March 27: 1513 - Spaniard Juan Ponce de León and his expedition first sight Florida.March 29: 1961 - After a 4½ year trial Nelson Mandela is acquitted of treason in Pretoria.
March 30: 1870 - 15th Amendment to the US constitution is adopted, guarantees right to vote regardless of race.
March 31: Cesar Chavez holiday. This day honors the Mexican-American labor and civil rights activist who gained attention in the 1960s as the leader of the United Farm Workers. His non-violent advocacy approach earned him worldwide respect. California, Arizona and Texas have made the day a state holiday.
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