March Madness

If I say March festivities, what comes to mind? Some might say St. Patrick’s Day. With stores and commercials going green for even the most non-Irish of products, it’s certainly getting some airtime. 

Ironically, I didn’t see many leprechauns in actual network programming – 30 Rock notwithstanding. But then, how many scripted primetime shows could truly translate the magic of green beer and a mechanical bull? (Or is that just a local thing?)
Some of you might revel in March Break – which, according to many parents, is hardly a break at all.  

Others look forward to a three week over-run of college basketball sporting the most befitting moniker, March Madness. (Seeing my favourite shows stuck on hiatus certainly leaves me P.O.’d!)

Otherwise, few see the true magic of the month.  No, the rising temperatures nix plans for skiing, ice-fishing and snowmobiling.  The remaining soggy mess delays spring sports.  And many of us are busy rediscovering mounds of “what the?” in our yards.

But what about all those unsung holidays of March? The ones so often overlooked by Hollywood, primetime and basketball scouts. And there are a few.

This year, March started with Freedom to Read Week. Maybe it would catch on more if it was Freedom to Watch TV. 

March is also Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, Kidney Month, National Social Work Month, Nutrition Month and Red Cross Month. 
So we have to focus on helping others, feeding ourselves, giving social support and monitoring both our number ones and our number twos. 

Amid these month-long goals, we also have Pharmacist Awareness Week, Canadian Agricultural Safety Week – which just happens to coincide with World Glaucoma Week – Brain Awareness Week (don’t want to forget about that!) and Poison Prevention Week.
Then there are the “Days.” 

March 8 was International Women’s Day – ironically, a largely localized celebration with minimal international media coverage. 

The 14th was Pi Day – otherwise known as the Great Day of the Nerd. (I should know. Rumour has it I still am one.) Pi Day celebrates that great number that continues forever without repeating. How could you not give it its own day?

The Ides of March (15) can be so unkind. Poor Julius Caesar! Stabbed 23 times! Well, you can’t say he wasn’t warned. 

But he missed the start of spring and the seasonal return of the FedEX guy’s shorts. 

World Water Day could be a huge hit. Everybody grab a pool noodle! 

However, World Tuberculosis Day may be a harder sell. 

And Purple Day isn’t just for epileptics anymore. March 22, 24 and 26 if you missed them in your day-planner!
Maybe if we can get the media on board with some of these lesser known March parties, they’ll catch on. 

Everything seems more exciting if it’s on the tube. How else can you explain Kim Kardashian? 

For now, I’ll just keep spreading the word on my own – after I check my kidneys.