posted March 02, 2020 11:27 PM            

As a result, the notion that March’s ides have a capricious and insidious nature has been cemented in the Western psyche. Case in point, consider the Ryan Gosling-George Clooney film. In The Ides of March, an idealistic communications operative working on a governor’s presidential bid is offered a desirable position with his opponent’s campaign. At the same time, he falls in love with an intern, who isn’t quite who she appears to be. With a star-studded cast including Philip Seymour Hoffman, Paul Giamatti, and Marissa Tomei, the film portrays what this infamous day stands for, a confluence of combative forces positioning themselves for supremacy.

So what is the Ides of March really and should we beware? And if so, how much? The word “ides” comes from Latin for “in the middle of.” So the ides was the exact middle day of each month. March was the first month of the year in the Roman calendar and as it took our satellite’s phases into account, the ides always fell on a full moon, which gave it even more supernatural clout. Unsurprisingly, this was the deadline in the Roman age for paying off one’s debts and settling affairs.

Symbolically, the weather plays its part. The sheer precariousness, coupled with the cabin fever we all feel after being cooped up all winter, adds to the volatility of this day. Unlike the dude, the weather doesn’t always abide. Mother Nature seems surprisingly irritable in the middle of March, if not outright bipolar. We can enjoy warmth and sunshine one day and fight arctic blasts the next.

Several primary source documents show that Julius Caesar was indeed assassinated on March 15, 44 BCE. Since, the middle day of that month has always been considered unlucky. This is much like Friday the 13th, which is rumored to have been the day when all of the Knights Templar—a secretive and powerful order of crusading knights, were rounded up and burned at the stake. Some were indeed arrested on Friday Oct. 13, 1307, but they weren’t all executed right then and there.

Not all of the Templars had been apprehended by that date (and some argue several might have escaped). Historians say that Friday the 13th is a modern conception. Previous to the 20th century, 13 was an unlucky number and Friday an unlucky day, but the two weren’t married until the novel, Friday, the Thirteenth, was published in 1907. Since then, it’s changed our culture in many ways. Today, some hospitals don’t have any rooms numbered 13 on any floor. Many buildings lack a 14th floor as well.

We’ve also gotten two nearly impossible terms to pronounce terms, Paraskavedekatriaphobia and friggatriskaidekaphobia, each meaning an unnatural fear of Friday, the 13th. Triskaidekaphobia is fear of the number 13 in general. A rumor states that since the 13th apostle betrayed Jesus, this left a stain on the number, causing it to become unlucky. There’s no historical record of this, however.

Many great historical figures feared the number 13 including Napoleon, Herbert Hoover, and FDR. Roosevelt refused to travel on the 13th of any month and wouldn’t abide 13 guests for dinner. Besides politics and architecture, it’s impacted some country’s economies as well. For instance, in Paris, those who find they have 13 in their party can hire a quatorzieme, or a 14th guest. Some say the Ides of March have had a similar effect on and culture our history.

Consider that on March 15, 1889, what’s known as the Samoan cyclone wiped out six warships, taking the lives of 200 sailors. Three of the ships were from the US, the other three Germany. While it was terribly unfortunate for those servicemen and their families, the upshot was the disaster may have averted war between the two nations, who were each looking to annex the Samoan Islands.

On March 15, 1917, Czar Nicholas II abdicated the throne, ending a royal dynasty that had lasted 304 years, and ushering in the Bolshevik era. The Romanovs would be held captive until July of the following year, when they were put in front of a firing squad and executed. During the Ides of March, 1939, Germany invaded Czechoslovakia, signaling that Hitler’s forces were on the move and growing more aggressive, instilling great anxiety across the world. Lastly, on March 15, 1971, CBS cancelled “The Ed Sullivan Show,” a staple of US television for the baby boomer generation and a program which introduced Americans to, among other cultural icons, Elvis Presley and The Beatles.

posted March 06, 2020 10:27 AM            

Gyps, it is wonderful to see you back. You have been Missed!!!

posted March 06, 2020 04:35 PM            

And do you what's odd? Well, nothing in this synchro super charged reality... but, funny thing, when I posted this thread I was thinking of you. I was recalling how we once loved a thread welcoming Spring, I wonder if you recall? We posted different trivia about it, if I'm remembering correctly.

posted March 07, 2020 05:50 PM            

🌻 🌼 🐞

posted March 08, 2020 06:57 PM            

I have some tulips breaking through! I saw some shoots of something else too. I'll have to dig out my gardening journal to see what I planted there. Looks like some green onions possibly. It was a warm winter, but still impossibly longggg. I feel my spirits lifting a bit now. I hope you all do as well.

MIRAGE can bring us some Spring music maybe? Or movie clips!

For now here is some light reading. Spring trivia..
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Startling Facts About Everyone’s Favorite Season – Spring!
Tara Carlson Tara Carlson
2 years ago
The results are in — 33% of Americans say spring is their favorite season! And honestly, we couldn’t agree more! The weather is perfect, the trees are blooming, and tulips sprout from their bulbs just waiting to greet you — what’s not to love? In honor of spring’s arrival, we’re sharing a few facts about everyone’s (or at least 106 million people’s) favorite season — spring!

posted March 12, 2020 09:39 AM            

OH, give us pleasure in the flowers to-day;

And give us not to think so far away
As the uncertain harvest; keep us here
All simply in the springing of the year.

Oh, give us pleasure in the orchard white,

Like nothing else by day, like ghosts by night;

And make us happy in the happy bees,
The swarm dilating round the perfect trees.

And make us happy in the darting bird
That suddenly above the bees is heard,
The meteor that thrusts in with needle bill,

And off a blossom in mid air stands still.

For this is love and nothing else is love,

The which it is reserved for God above

To sanctify to what far ends He will,
But which it only needs that we fulfil.I love you too

RobertFrost

posted March 14, 2020 03:08 PM            

Blue Roamer, I can't say, 'Beware The Ides of March' in just words. I have to warble/yell them in order to feel fulfilled 😬😂

posted March 14, 2020 06:16 PM            

I love the simplicity of Frost. As a tween, it was poetry that made sense!

I had to go to the city today for monthly supplies. I was shocked by the empty shelves. Canned veggies for goodness sakes?!

To me, this borders on hoarding and is sad. 😷

Stay healthy and smiling through this panic.

posted March 14, 2020 09:05 PM            

I hear you , the hoarding should not be a thing. For Pete's sake, what do they think people did before toilet paper??
I can understand if one has disabilities and cannot venture out often, but before the purchase limits there were people buying entire carts full of it.

Stay warm and cozy ladies! 🍵🍵 drink some hot tea, snuggle up your pet, watch a B grade movie. 😙

posted March 15, 2020 10:07 PM            

The local store I shopped at today for dog food had stocked shelves and Folks acting normal. So refreshing after yesterdays city visit.

This seems to be the start of rougher times ahead. 😣

May we all be safe, healthy and keep fear at bay 🤗 .

posted March 16, 2020 11:35 PM            

We went to Walmart and the canned goods were sold out.

I was craving baked beans and not ready to give up, so on a whim I checked our local dollar tree. They had tons of canned goods, bottled water, and snacks. No paper products though.

posted March 17, 2020 08:30 AM            

MARCH=CHARM
HE AND SHE ARE THE CHARMS
SEE THE OTHER SIDE OF FAME
IDES=SIDE=DIES
RISE=SIRE, DAME AT HIS SIDE
FORM TO A SEER AND SEE AND HEAR
A RACE OF TIME
A SEED OF FATHER AND MOTHER
RAH-RAM A MARS DAME DIES
TO RISE TO HIS SIDE, SHE HIDES
FROM THE MAD RACE, SO DOES HE
IT'S TIME TO RAISE=ARISE
SHARE THE FORE-TOLD MASTER
FATHOM THIS ONE AND THAT ONE!

..this is a hard lexi...

Be safe everyOne

Edit..somehow N came praNcing iN
Not waNting to be igNored!
I Love playiNg with letters aNd
words...