March Holidays: Holi, Nowruz, and the Spring Equinox

The Month of Renewal

March marks the turning point of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. Days grow longer, temperatures begin to rise, and cultures around the world celebrate renewal with some of the most vibrant festivals on the calendar. Three major celebrations define the month: Holi, Nowruz, and the observances tied to the spring equinox.

Holi: The Festival of Colors

Holi is one of India's most recognized festivals, celebrated on the full moon day of the Hindu month of Phalguna, which typically falls in March. The two-day celebration begins with Holika Dahan, a bonfire on the eve symbolizing the triumph of good over evil, followed by the main day of color play called Dhulandi.

How It Is Celebrated

On the morning of Holi, people gather in streets, parks, and courtyards to throw colored powders called gulal and spray colored water at one another. Social barriers dissolve temporarily as people of all ages and backgrounds join in. Traditional foods like gujiya, a sweet dumpling, and thandai, a spiced milk drink, are shared freely.

Where to Watch

While Holi is most widely celebrated across northern India, particularly in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Delhi, significant celebrations also take place in Nepal, Bangladesh, and among South Asian diaspora communities in the United Kingdom, United States, and Canada. The date shifts slightly each year based on the lunar calendar, so confirm the exact date before making travel plans.

Nowruz: The Persian New Year

Nowruz falls on the spring equinox, usually 20 or 21 March, and marks the beginning of the new year in the Iranian calendar. With roots stretching back over 3,000 years to Zoroastrian traditions, Nowruz is celebrated by more than 300 million people across Iran, Afghanistan, Central Asia, Kurdistan, and diaspora communities worldwide.

The Haft-sin Table

Families prepare a ceremonial table called haft-sin, displaying seven items that begin with the letter sin in Persian. Each item symbolizes a different hope for the new year: sabzeh (wheat sprouts) for rebirth, samanu (sweet pudding) for affluence, senjed (dried oleaster) for love, sir (garlic) for medicine, sib (apple) for beauty, somaq (sumac) for sunrise, and serkeh (vinegar) for patience.

A Two-Week Celebration

Nowruz celebrations extend for thirteen days, culminating in Sizdah Bedar on the thirteenth day, when families picnic outdoors and throw their sabzeh sprouts into running water. Schools and government offices close for much of this period in Iran and Afghanistan.

The Spring Equinox: 20-21 March

The astronomical equinox, when day and night are approximately equal in length, has been a marker for celebrations since ancient times. While not a public holiday in most countries, the equinox anchors several cultural observances.

St. Patrick's Day: 17 March

Just days before the equinox, St. Patrick's Day transforms cities worldwide into seas of green. Originally a religious feast day in Ireland honoring the patron saint, it has become a global celebration of Irish culture. Parades in Dublin, New York, Chicago, and Sydney draw millions of spectators. In Chicago, the river is famously dyed green.

Carnival's Final Days

In years when Easter falls in April, Carnival season extends into early March, with Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday marking the transition into Lent. The timing of Carnival is entirely dependent on Easter, which follows its own complex lunar calculation.

Planning for March

March is a transitional month in many ways. Schools in several countries have spring breaks that shift between early March and mid-April. Combined with Holi, Nowruz, and St. Patrick's Day, this creates variable demand for travel and hospitality. Confirm all lunar-dependent dates at the start of each year, and remember that Nowruz is the one major celebration fixed to an astronomical event rather than a religious calendar.