Metamorphic March: Trends and events in March 2025

Welcome to Spring or Autumn. This is a transitional month with something for everyone.

Internationally, it is Women's History Month, focusing on the achievements, needs, and challenges that women face. Several weeks and days throughout the month highlight women's health, education, opportunities, concerns, needs, and desires. This month includes Mothering Sunday (March 30) in the British Commonwealth countries, Middle East Mother's Day (March 21), and Bulgaria's Baba Marta(March 1), its Mother's Days. There are multiple Daylight Savings transitions throughout the month worldwide.

Many nations and religions will celebrate their New Year (Nowruz in Persia) on or near March 21, the Vernal Equinox—or on March 14 (Sikh New Year). The Hindus take it to the next level with Holi (March 13-14), a multi-day extravaganza of color, food, and celebrations. Carnival and Mardi Gras celebrations will commence on February 27 or 28 worldwide and go through Fat Tuesday (March 4). After this gluttonous celebration, Christians enter the season of Lent on Ash Wednesday(March 5).

Muslims enter their holiest month of the year, Ramadan, with its first full day on March 1 (though it begins at sundown on February 28). Eid al-Fitr, the three to five-day celebration breaking the fast, starts on March 31. Those of the Jewish faith will celebrate Purim (March 13-15).

In sports, the Iditarod takes place in Alaska (March 1-15), and its cousin, Finnmarksløpet occurs in Norway (March 14-22). We wrap up the first quarter with March Madness, the NCAA college basketball finals. Concurrently, England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, France, and Italy will compete in the Six Nations rugby tournament finals through mid-month. The 2025 Major League Baseball season kicks off in Tokyo, Japan, with the Dodgers and the Cubs (March 18-19).

March 2 features the Academy Awards and the end of the month showcases the JUNO Music Awards in Canada, and a partial solar eclipse on March 30.

Phew! That's a lot, and it's only a fraction of the over 800+ events I currently have in LEEP Calendar for March 2025!

See the 2023 and 2024 March issues for more events.

I'll start this issue with one of my favorite historical figures who has been alive during my lifetime, the indomitable, gracious, and extraordinary Cesar Chavez.

CESAR CHAVEZ DAY

Date: March 31, [1927]

Location: United States

Champion: Historical Anniversary

On March 31, 1927, Cesar Estrada Chavez was born in Yuma, Arizona. He came of age as a migrant farm worker (meaning his family moved from farm to farm to harvest crops) and witnessed the injustice that pervaded fields and vineyards across California. Facing discrimination, poverty, and dangerous working conditions, farm laborers toiled for little pay without access to even the most rudimentary necessities. Yet, amidst hardship and abuse, Chavez saw promise—the unlimited potential of a community organized around a common purpose.

Through boycotts, fasts, strikes, and marches that demanded endurance and imagination, he drew thousands together to support 'La Causa' — a mission to ensure respect, dignity, and fair treatment for farm workers. With Dolores Huerta, he founded the United Farm Workers of America (UFW), an organization tasked with defending and empowering the men and women who feed the world.

President Barack Obama declared Cesar Chavez Day official in 2012. California had already been marking the day for decades. President Trump removed this holiday from national observance during his previous term. President Biden reinstated it. I expect it to be removed again, except in California, where it started.

OSTARA (ALBAN EILIER)

Date: March 20, 2025

Location: Worldwide

Champion: Pagan religious observance

At the spring equinox, Pagans, Wiccans, and Druids celebrate Ostara, also known in Druid traditions as Alban Eilir, “Light of the Earth”. The holiday marks the balance and renewal, marking the moment when day and night share equal length before the sun’s growing power tips the scales toward warmer days. Ostara is considered a pivotal point in the “Wheel of the Year,” a cyclical calendar of eight festivals observed by many contemporary Pagan groups around the globe.

Detailed accounts of historical Ostara rituals remain vague. Celebrants draw inspiration from folklore about the Germanic spring goddess Eostre, who they believe is linked to the season’s themes of fertility and rebirth. Today, customs vary but often feature sunrise ceremonies, decorating eggs as symbols of new life, spring cleaning for invigoration, and feasting seasonal foods.

INFERTILITY AWARENESS SHABBAT

Dates: March 27-30, 2025

Location: Worldwide

Champion: Yesh Tikva

Passover is a holiday with a strong focus on children. In the Jewish faith, the Torah asks the faithful to " tell your children (Exodus 13:8) of the great miracles of the Exodus." The rituals of Seder night are created to assist in this telling "so that the children will ask." And those without children?

The Infertility Awareness Shabbat is Yesh Tikva's program designed to raise awareness and sensitivity regarding infertility. Infertility affects one in eight men and women in the Jewish community. On Shabbat morning, synagogues partner with Yesh Tikva to share a Dvar Torah, or message of hope and compassion for all couples looking to have children.

BRITISH SCIENCE WEEK

Dates: March 7-16, 2025

Location: United Kingdom

Champion: British Science Association

British Science Week, traditionally held in March, dates back to 1994. The event was initially known as National Science Week but was rebranded to its current name to reflect its broadening scope and reach. The week includes multiple activities, experiments, debates, and shows hosted nationwide, designed to appeal to people of all ages and backgrounds. England's contribution to scientific discovery is rich and varied, highlighting the nation's significant role in advancing global science.

Landmark English contributions include Isaac Newton's laws of motion and gravity, Charles Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection, Michael Faraday's work in electromagnetism, and Francis Crick and James Watson's co-discovery of the structure of DNA, alongside their colleague Rosalind Franklin's crucial X-ray crystallography work.

British Science Week transcends mere celebration; it inspires and fosters public interest in science, breaking down stereotypes and barriers associated with STEM fields.

HUMAN RIGHTS DAY

Date: March 21, [1960]

Location: South Africa

Champion: Historical Anniversary

Human Rights Day in South Africa marks the anniversary of the Sharpeville Massacre on March 21, 1960. The massacre was carried out by the police, who fired into a crowd of black demonstrators, killing 69 and wounding 180.

Sharpeville marked the beginning of the fight against South African apartheid and remains one of its bloodiest demonstrations.

Human Rights Day is a national holiday in South Africa.

AKC KENNEL CLUB AGILITY CHAMPIONSHIP

Date: March 14-16, 2025

Location: United States

Champion: The American Kennel Club

One of the most delightful events to watch, the American Kennel Club (AKC) Agility Championship is a prestigious event in the canine sports world, showcasing the agility, training, and partnership between dogs and their handlers. Agility tests a dog's ability to swiftly navigate an obstacle course with guidance from their handler, demonstrating speed, flexibility, and obedience.

In agility competitions, dogs navigate various obstacles, such as jumps, tunnels, weave poles, and seesaws. Courses test a dog's ability to follow commands promptly while moving quickly. Dogs are judged based on speed and accuracy, with penalties for mistakes like knocking over a jump bar or missing an obstacle.

Participation in the AKC Agility Championship is diverse, with dogs of various breeds and sizes competing. The competition is structured to accommodate this diversity, with different courses and standards for other classes of dogs, ensuring a fair and enjoyable experience for all. The AKC Agility Championship is more than just a competition; it's a celebration of the capabilities and spirit of dogs and their handlers.

FLAG DAY

Date: March 18, [1976/1986]

Location: Aruba

Champion: Historical Anniversary

On March 18, 1976, the island nation of Aruba adopted its current flag and national anthem, "Aruba Dushi Tera." On March 18, 1986, the Netherlands officially recognized Aruba's autonomy from its kingdom.

Aruba's flag features a light blue field with two narrow yellow stripes across the lower portion and a red, four-pointed star outlined in white near the top left. Each flag element is rich with symbolism (see the full entry on LEEP for descriptions).

Flag Day in Aruba is a national holiday

WHITE DAY

Date: March 14, 2025

Location: China, Japan, South Korea

Champion: Japanese National Confectionery Industry Association

On White Day, men across Japan, South Korea, and parts of China mark White Day, a reciprocal celebration similar to Valentine's Day. While Valentine's Day in these regions traditionally sees women presenting chocolates and gifts to men, White Day reverses the roles: men offer return presents—often white-themed confections or small tokens of affection—to the women who remembered them a month earlier.

The holiday originated in Japan in the late 1970s, reportedly sparked by a marshmallow manufacturer's marketing campaign. The idea quickly took root, evolving into a nationwide custom. White Day spread beyond Japan's borders in the following decades, particularly to South Korea and China. Stores begin displaying pastel-colored sweets and heart-shaped merchandise well in advance, and couples often use the day to enjoy dinners out or exchange more personalized gifts.

Independence Day

• Bosnia - Herzegovina (March 1, 1992)

• Bangladesh (March 26, 1971)

• Ghana (March 6, 1957)

• Greece (March 25, 1832)

• Lithuania (March 11, 1990)

• Mauritius (March 12, 1968)

• Namibia (March 21, 1990)

• Tunisia (March 20, 1956)

Liberation Day

• Bulgaria (March 3, 1878)

• Philippines (March 3, 1945)

Martyr's Day

• Malawi (March 3, 1959)

National Day

• Gabon (March 12, 1968)

• Holy See (March 13, 2013)

Resistance Day

• Myanmar (March 27, 1945)

Revolution Day

• Syria (March 8, 1963)

MAJOR GLOBAL SPORTING EVENTS IN MARCH 2025

As Spring approaches, the sports pick up. Here is a selection of major and amusing global sporting events in March 2025.

• Adelaide Cup (Horse Racing): March 10, —Australia

• AKC Agility Championship (Specialty): March 14-16, —United States

• Birkebeinerrennet (Specialty): March 15, —Norway

• Finnmarksløpet (Dog Sled Racing): March 14-22, —Norway

• Grand Prix of Australia (Auto Racing): March 14-16, —Australia

• Grand Prix of China (Auto Racing): March 21-23, —China

• IAAF World Indoor Athletics Championship (Multi-sport): March 21-21, —China

• IBA World Championships (Women's Boxing): March 8-16, —Serbia

• Iditarod (Dog Sled Racing): March 1-15, —United States

• Magners Cheltenham Horse Racing Festival (Horse Racing): March 11-14, —United Kingdom

• March Madness (Basketball): March 16 - April 7, —United States

• MLB Baseball Season Opening Day (Baseball): March 18-19, —Japan

• NAIA Cheer and Dance National Championship (Specialty): March 7-8, —United States

• Nordic World Ski Championships (Skiing): February 26- March 9, —Norway

• Shrovetide Pancake Race (Specialty): March 4, —United Kingdom, United States

• Six Nations, Round 4 (Rugby): March 8-9, —Europe

• Six Nations, Round 5 (Rugby): March 15, —Europe

• Ski-Joring Finals (Specialty): March 8-9, —United States

• Special Olympics World Winter Games (Multi-sport) March 8-15, —Italy

• Tokyo Marathon (Running): March 2, —Japan

• Winter Military World Games (Multi-sport): March 23-30, —Switzerland

• World Figure Skating Championships (Ice Skating): March 25-30, —United States

FEATURED DEEP DIVE

VIAGRA® DAY

Date: March 27, [1998]

Location: Worldwide

Champion: Historical Anniversary

This month, I chose International Viagra Day as the Deep Dive Feature. Like most of you, I have heard of it and, as an adult, appreciated the results, but I had never really looked it up to understand what it is and what it does. This gave me an excuse. Generally, I prefer to be more scientific on health issues, but I had to get a little creative with descriptions to avoid censors as much as possible. Forgive me for some of the euphemisms and obfuscations. I really tried to keep this at a PG rating.

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March 27, 1998, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States granted Viagra's approval. Today, that anniversary is known as International Viagra Day. Various men's health advocacy groups and media outlets have used the occasion to discuss erectile dysfunction (ED), highlight new research, and reduce the stigma surrounding men's biological health issues.

Viagra — the little blue pill spearheading the conversation around men's relationship health — remains one of the most recognizable prescription drugs in modern medicine. Here's a closer look at its origins, how it works, and why it continues to stand out in the global marketplace.

THE OOPS THAT CREATED OH YEAH!

Viagra is the brand name for sildenafil citrate, a compound originally studied in the early 1990s by scientists at Pfizer's research facility in Sandwich, England. Andrew Bell, David Brown, and Nicholas Terrettformed the team that discovered sildenafil. The researchers were investigating its potential as a treatment for angina (a heart condition) when volunteers in clinical trials reported an unexpected side effect: it helped men with physical intimacy.

While sildenafil wasn't the effective heart medication Pfizer hoped it would be, it showed promise in treating what was then a sensitive, often-hidden issue of ED.

Viagra was the first oral medication expressly indicated for ED. Almost immediately, the world's XY population embraced the drug as a breakthrough therapy. By the early 2000s, Viagra had become a cultural phenomenon, referenced by everyone from late-night talk show hosts to sitcom writers.

From a business standpoint, Viagra's success was swift and sizable.

Throughout the early 2000s, its sales soared, surpassing $1 billionannually at their peak. In a global market for ED drugs estimated in the billions of dollars, Viagra's brand recognition has helped Pfizer retain a large share, even as generic versions and competitor medications have entered the scene.

WHY VIAGRA MATTERS TO MEN

Viagra gave millions of men a non-invasive option to address ED — a condition that can stem from aging, cardiovascular issues, diabetes, stress, or psychological factors. The ability to restore intimate satisfaction has had profound impacts on self-esteem, relationships, and quality of life. As a result, Viagra quickly became synonymous with hope for men facing ED, opening up conversations about masculine health in ways that were once considered taboo.

HOW VIAGRA WORKS

Classified as a PDE5 inhibitor, sildenafil citrate blocks the enzyme phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5), which assists in regulating blood flow in the male membrane. By inhibiting PDE5, Viagra relaxes blood vessels, improving blood circulation to specific areas of the body. When arousal occurs, this relaxed state allows more blood to flow into the area, elevating the region in ways beneficial to the results sought.

Viagra is sold worldwide, with the United States accounting for a significant share of the prescription market. High awareness, direct-to-consumer advertising, and insurance coverage for ED medications (in some cases) have all contributed to robust sales in the country. Other significant markets include Europe (notably the United Kingdom, Germany, and Italy) and parts of Asia, where regulatory approvals and cultural acceptance of these treatments have grown.

Viagra's meteoric rise from a failed heart medication to a top-selling prescription drug represents one of the pharmaceutical industry's most enduring success stories. Twenty-five plus years after its approval, Viagra continues to shape conversations about men's health and enrich their lives globally.

How did I do?

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That wraps the March 2025 issue of LEEP Ink. Please like, comment, share, and/or subscribe. I really do love comments, whether positive or negative.

Thank you for the gift of your time, and I'll see you in mid-March with the April 2025 issue of LEEP Ink! This newsletter is available on LinkedIn, Substack and LEEP Calendar

Last updated: Feb 19th 2025