March 19 - The end of winter or a time to clean?

March 19 is the 78th day of the year (79th in leap years like 2008) in the Gregorian calendar. There are 287 days remaining until the end of the year (get saving for Christmas!). It is also usually the last day of the winter season in the Northern Hemisphere (so it should be getting warmer - but isnt there snow forecast?), and the last day of the summer season in the Southern Hemisphere (strewth it’s getting too cold for a barby!).

In the Czech Republic the day is traditionally called 'Ugly Wednesday', 'Soot-Sweeping Wednesday' or 'Black Wednesday' because chimneys used to be swept on this day, to be clean for Easter.

In Western Christianity, the Wednesday before Easter is sometimes known as 'Spy Wednesday', as being the day that Judas Iscariot first conspired with the Sanhedrin to betray Jesus for thirty silver coins.

However you know or see the day - enjoy it!