Ever since I took Shakespeare's Julius Caesar in grade 9, this phrase has stuck with me - for indeed, Caesar was murdered on the 15th of march.

"Ides" in the Roman calendar related to lunar cycles - their calendar was more of a true lunar calendar than our modern version, which required endless rejigging to remain remotely accurate. Instead of counting days sequentially, certain days - such as the "Ides" were tied to lunar events. The Ides originated as the day of the full moon.

 We know that the moon CAN control terrestrially events - tides, for example, and there has been lots of talk about the "super moon" - a full moon at the point when the moon is closest to earth- intensifying the Japan earthquake- except that doesn't happen until March 19.

So it is not surprising that the Romans, and Britons of Shakespeare's day- would attach mystical significance to the Ides of March, and forces beyond control or comprehension. Mars being the God of War, it was a particularly risky time. Wariness might be understanable.

 Me?Wary? Not so much. I just think it's way more interesting than St. Patrick's Day, which is just so overdone.  And I'm still worried about Moon Madness.

 What do you think?