The March Hare, often called The Mad March Hare, is a character most famous for appearing in the tea party scene in Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.



The March Hare and friends at Alice's Tea Party

Sir John Tenniel's illustration shows him with straw on his head,
a common way to depict madness in Victorian times.
 



Johnny Depp as the "Mad Hatter" in Tim Burton's new film, "Alice In Wonderland".
(Any excuse to put Johnny Depp on my web page, lol.)

"Mad as a March hare" was a common phrase in Carroll's time, and appears in John Heywood's collection of proverbs published in 1546. It is reported in The Annotated Alice by Martin Gardner that this proverb is based on popular belief about hares' behaviour at the beginning of the long breeding season, which lasts from February to September in Britain. Early in the season, unreceptive females often use their forelegs to repel overenthusiastic males. It used to be incorrectly believed that these bouts were between males fighting for breeding supremacy.

According to ancient European folklore our familiar egg-laden Easter bunny was in fact originally a hare -
an ancient symbol of new life and fertility.
The Brown Hare is the harbinger of Spring and is held in high esteem by many people.
 For hundreds of years there have been many old customs and beliefs associated with hares;
to country folk they were mystical and mysterious.
Hares are also portrayed in churches and cathedrals.
Beautiful carvings and drawings often depict a hare sat gazing up at the moon.

 

The March Hare Poetry Festival

The March Hare is Atlantic Canada's largest poetry festival.
The March Hare began as an evening of poetry and entertainment in Corner Brook, Newfoundland and Labrador, and has evolved into an annual island-wide celebration of words and music.
 

 

March Trivia

March also celebrates St. David's day (1st); St. Patrick's day (17th) and St. Joseph's day (19th).
The Ides of March (15th) wasn't a pleasant day for Julius Caesar.

"It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: 
when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade."
~Charles Dickens~ 

March's birthstone is aquamarine and bloodstone. They mean courage.
Its birth flower is the Narcissus.

 

March - A frontier zone, often debated, between two nations.
The region along the border between England and Wales is still referred to as the Welsh Marches.

 

March Winds

Gently, gently, winds of March,
With my daffodillies;
Bend the tall and stately larch,
But spare my Lenten lilies.

Breathe softly through my crocus bed,
Now a blaze of yellow.
Blow harsh on hardier things instead,
Wild wind, you clumsy fellow.

Like you I love the mad March days'
Rough and tumble weather;
But through my garden's golden ways,
Blow lightly as a feather.

 


Marches

March music originates from the military, and marches are usually played by a marching band.
The most important instruments are various drums (especially snare drum), horns, fife or woodwind instruments and brass instruments. Marches and marching bands have even today a strong connection to military, both to drill and parades. Marches, which are played at paces with multiples of normal heartbeat, can have a hypnotic effect on the marching soldiers, rendering them into a trance. This effect was widely known already in the 16th century, and was employed to lead the soldiers in closed ranks against the enemy fire in the 16th and 17th century wars.

 

Colonel Bogey March in film and television

The tune was whistled, as an insult, by Michael Redgrave in Alfred Hitchcock's 1938 film The Lady Vanishes, which may be the first time it was heard in a fictional film.

The Australian Military Band play the song in the film "The Crossing".

It has been used in films such as The Parent Trap, The Breakfast Club, The Bridge on the River Kwai (perhaps the most famous use).
 


~Click on graphic for film clip.~


~Tom Baker as Doctor Who.~

 In the Doctor Who serial "The Face of Evil", The Doctor (portrayed by Tom Baker) whistles the march to show his disdain of his alien antagonizers as he explores a planet.
The Doctor also whistles the march in the serial The Invasion of Time.  

Since 2001, the tune has been used as part of the "Saskatchewan In Motion" advertising campaign, a provincial programme encouraging physical activity.

 

The March Family

 

Little Women (or Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy) is a novel by American author Louisa May Alcott (1832–1888).
 The novel follows the lives of four sisters—Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy March—and is loosely based on the author's childhood experiences with her three sisters.
This book was ever present in my childhood "stash" in England.  The sisters to me were exotic creatures and brought to mind that I had lots of aunts and what life would have been like to be one of many daughters. 

 

Marchers
 

Whitsunday Walks are also remembered with fondness.  We assembled at Clifton Park and marched behind the banner of the Mothers' Union from our church, St. Alban's, in Wickersley, Yorkshire.
Oftentimes we wore our Easter finery at Whitsuntide (Pentecost) as Easter was too nippy.

St. Alban's Church, Wickersley.

My parents were married at this church.
I was baptized here and attended Sunday school and church services well into my teens.
Our daughter Sara, Canadian-born, was baptized here also. 

... I've always marched to a different drummer. 
Sometimes what I come up with is truly idiotic, sometimes a fresh perspective on things...

 


 

Best wishes to one and all.
Put your best foot forward and March into Spring...

 


 

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Music:  "Colonel Bogey March"
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