March Is Here!
The weather is changing and winter is on its way out. Spring is right around the corner, starting Thursday, March 20th. People are getting outside more to enjoy the weather with sports, outdoor gatherings, and the new season for fresh, delicious fruits and vegetables.
Don’t forget to set your clocks ahead one hour on Sunday, March 9, at 2:00 a.m., which means you will lose an hour of sleep. Be sure to change them before you go to bed!
Purim
The Jewish holiday of Purim begins on March 13, 2025, at sundown and ends on March 14 at sundown. Purim is one of the most joyous and fun holidays on the Jewish calendar. It commemorates a time when the Jewish people living in Persia were saved from extermination.
During Purim, the book of Esther is read.
There are many traditions on this Jewish holiday; it is customary to give food as a gift to our friends. Men give to men and women give to women… by way of a third party, usually a child. It is also customary to give to the needy; at least two needy recipients, including money, clothes or food.
Drinking wine and alcohol is encouraged on Purim. This is the holiday to “let loose!”. When greeting another on this holiday, one would say “Happy Purim” or in Hebrew you would say “chag Purim sameach” (pronounced KHAG poo-REEM sah-MAY-akh).
Purim is celebrated nationwide with traditional food, costumes and parades. A popular cookie made for Purim is called a “hamantaschen.” This triangle-shaped cookie is filled with a wonderful fruit filling and can be made with any filling you like. Traditional fillings include prunes, berries and nuts.
Try this delicious Hamantaschen recipe from our website!
St. Patrick’s Day
The most celebrated holiday in March is St. Patrick’s Day, mostly because of the food and drinking! St. Patrick’s Day, which is always March 17th, is an Irish holiday honoring Saint Patrick, the missionary credited with converting the Irish to Christianity (in the A.D. 400s). Historical sources report that Patrick was born around 373 A.D. in either Scotland (near the town of Dumbarton) or in Roman Britain (the Romans left Britain in 410 A.D.). The story says at the age of 16, he was kidnapped by pirates and sold into slavery in Ireland. During his 6-year captivity working as a shepherd, he began to have religious visions and found strength in his faith. He finally escaped and went to France, where he became a priest (and later a bishop).
When Saint Patrick was about 60 years old, he traveled to Ireland to spread the Christian word. It is said that Saint Patrick had an unusually winning personality, which helped him win converts. He used the shamrock, which resembles a three-leafed clover, as a metaphor to explain the concept of the Trinity (father, son, Holy Spirit). Saint Patrick was also known to have driven all the snakes out of Ireland, which is why Ireland has no snakes. Different tales tell of Saint Patrick standing on a hill, using a wooden staff to drive the serpents into the sea, banishing them forever from the shores of Ireland.
The first American celebration of Saint Patrick's Day was in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1737. Americans celebrated with festivities and feasts. Today, we celebrate with foods like cabbage, (this year, try our Napa Cabbage in your recipes!), our famous DYPs® (Dutch Yellow® Potatoes), corned beef and green foods of any kind.
Green is associated with Saint Patrick's Day because it is the color of Spring, Ireland, and the shamrock. Leprechauns are also associated with this holiday.
Melissa’s has some great food ideas for this green holiday. Green cabbage or salad savoy (flowering kale) are popular to enjoy. Boil them until tender and serve with your favorite meat (corned beef is traditional) and you’re off to a great start. Kale has become very popular for juicing because it is nutrient-dense. Other greens like romaine and spinach are popular for salads or sides and our steamed artichokes make a great dip with spinach, too!
These superstitions are considered good luck on Saint Patrick’s Day:
Finding a four-leaf clover
Wearing green
Following a rainbow
Kissing the Blarney Stone
Seeing a falling star in the sky
First day of Spring
The first day of Spring is Thursday, March 20, 2025. The climates worldwide are changing so check your local nurseries for varieties to plant in your area. Flowers are the most popular to plant—whimsical and blooming with love in the air!
Seasonal fresh fruits and vegetable from artichokes to fiddleheads are filling the marketplace; Spring is the best time for fresh.
Look for Melissa’s in your local supermarket or have it delivered to your door!
Fat Tuesday & Ash Wednesday
Fat Tuesday is March 4, 2025, the day before Ash Wednesday, on March 5, 2025. Fat Tuesday gets its name from the custom of using all the fats in their home to prepare for fasting during Lent. Fat Tuesday is also known as Mardi Gras.
Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent. According to Merriam-Webster, Lent is a period of fasting and regret for one's sins that is observed on the 40 weekdays from Ash Wednesday to Easter by many churches. Observed by Christians, Lent is a 40-day period to give up habits that mean something in their life. Possibilities are giving up their favorite food, caffeine, TV, sugar or cell phone.
Meat is a popular food given up during Lent. Melissa’s offers several meatless items to help substitute meat during Lent. Check out some of our soy-based items here.
