Notable About March…

• Spring: In the northern hemisphere, March is often considered the start of spring, as the weather begins to warm up and the days grow longer.

• Holidays: March is the month of Saint Patrick’s Day, a holiday celebrated in Ireland and by Irish communities worldwide. It is also the month of International Women’s Day, a day to celebrate women’s social, economic, cultural, and political achievements.

• Sports: March is the month of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, also known as March Madness, a popular college basketball tournament in the United States.

• Agriculture: In agricultural areas, March is often associated with the start of the growing season, as farmers begin to plant crops and tend to their fields.

• History: March is the month of the Ides of March, a fateful day in ancient Rome when Julius Caesar was assassinated.

March is the Third Month

“In Like a Lion, Out Like a Lamb” Phrase Origin

Many rhymes, expressions, riddles, idioms, and songs exist to describe certain phases of the calendar year. Some of the most common examples are “April showers bring May flowers” and the Month of the Year nursery rhyme, made to help people remember which months have thirty days and which have thirty-one.

Like April, the month of March also has an expression that goes, “In Like a Lion, Out Like a Lamb.” While not usually a part of our everyday language, it holds meaning behind the shifting forecast one can expect in March.

But what does it mean exactly?

Meaning

The phrase “In Like a Lion, Out Like a Lamb” refers to the notion that the month of March usually starts off with the continuation of cold winters (aggressive like a lion) and ends with warmer, spring-like weather (soft like a lamb). March straddles the winter and spring timeline, so the idiom is the perfect way to describe the change in weather during the month.

Origin

While there is no permanent record of when this expression was first used, one of the earliest citations occurred in Thomas Fuller’s 1732 compendium, Gnomologia: Adagies and Proverbs; Wise Sentences and Witty Sayings, Ancient and Modern, Foreign and British. The authors state, “Comes in like a Lion, goes out like a Lamb.” It then made its way into many farmers’ almanacs after that—although it is assumed that the expression is much older than the 18th century.

How this expression is seen in everyday life

Because of this change, March is also a time when many consumers experience a decrease in their utility costs because less heat is needed to maintain a warm environment to combat winter, while it’s also not necessary to spring (no pun intended) for air conditioning yet. Even though it appears that recent standard weather periods are intermingling due to climate change, the language still remains. 

What do you think? Does March come in like a lion and out like a lamb? Or perhaps it comes in like a penguin and out like a duck. You decide.

Women’s History Month celebrates the contributions of women to history and encourages people to learn about the achievements of women throughout history.

Workplace Eye Wellness Month focuses on the importance of eye health and encourages people to protect their eyes from eye strain and injury.

Worldwide Home Schooling Awareness Month raises awareness about homeschooling and encourages families to consider this educational option for their children.

Youth Art Month celebrates the creativity and talent of young artists and encourages young people to explore their artistic interests.