Beware the Ides of March!

Oooo, such great literary reference! Most people would probably be able to tell you that that's from Shakespeare's play Julius Caesar, but I got to wondering just what exactly was the history behind the infamous "Ides of March." Since it's coming up on the 15th, I decided to give it a google to find out.

Apparently, the "ides" of any month is simply a way to mark the middle of the month. So, in some months, the "ides" actually falls on the 13th instead of the 15th. March, May, July, and October are the months that share the date of the 15th for their "ides" - I wonder if the other month's "ides" are as treacherous as March's? The other months all mark the 13th as their "ides."

Here are just a few fun "Ides of March" facts for you. Did you know that in Back to the Future II, George McFly, Marty's father, was killed on March 15th, 1973? He should have been warned about the Ides of March...

Every year for the Ides of March, the Rome Hash House Harriers celebrate the day with a toga run in the streets of Rome, in the same place where Julius Caesar was killed.

Oh, and the "Ides" aren't the only day with their own name. There's also the "Kalends" - or the first day of the month, and the "Nodes" - or the 7th day in March, May, July, and October; the 5th in the other months. Who knew?

So enjoy your middle of March - or beware it, whichever you choose!

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Beware the Ides of March!

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