You may know that March 15, “the ides of March,” was the day on which Julias Caesar was assassinated (in 44 BC), thus constituting the phrase: “Beware of the ides of March.” But did you know that this day in history was also a tragic one on other accounts?
These include a raid on Southern England (1360), the Samoan Cyclone (1889), Czar Nicholas II abdicating his throne (1917), the German occupation of Czechoslovakia (1939), a world Record Rainfall (1952), and a New Global health scare (2003). But, probably the one of most interest to us at St. Anne’s as North Dakotans is the infamous blizzard of 1941.
If you read last month’s Broadcaster (our little resident newsletter), you may recall that one of our residents, Ann Leeson still remembers that unexpected event.
The word “ides,” according to one article, comes from the Latin word meaning to divide, but also has to do with the timing of the full moon.
Hopefully, however, you aren’t superstitious, and we can hope for a good day today, despite March 15th’s sad history. For one thing, it’s one day closer to the beginning of spring!
Information from: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/top-ten-reasons-to-beware-the-ides-of-march-8664107/