March 17: Holidays, Historical Events, Famous Birthdays & Zodiac Sign
Julius Caesar won his final military triumph on March 17, 45 BC, at the Battle of Munda—crushing Pompeian forces in a bloody fight that secured his grip on Rome.
About March 17
March 17 belongs first and foremost to Saint Patrick's Day, a public holiday in Ireland, Montserrat, and Newfoundland and Labrador, and celebrated worldwide. The day honors the fifth-century patron saint of Ireland, but the parades, the wearing of green, and the general merriment have made it a global phenomenon. Appropriately, it's also Corned Beef and Cabbage Day—a nod to the Irish-American culinary tradition that evolved alongside the holiday itself.
Beyond the shamrocks, this date carries an astonishing weight of history. In 45 BC, Julius Caesar scored his last battlefield victory at Munda, effectively ending Republican resistance. Nearly two millennia later, in 1958, the United States launched the first solar-powered satellite, achieving a long-term orbit and marking a new chapter in space exploration. On the same date in 1992, South Africans voted by a resounding 68.7% to end apartheid, dismantting a system of racial segregation that had defined the nation for decades.
March 17 has also been a day of firsts for women in leadership. Golda Meir became Israel's first female prime minister on this date in 1969. A decade earlier, in 1959, Myrlie Evers-Williams was born—a journalist and activist who would later lead the NAACP and deliver the invocation at President Obama's second inauguration. The zodiac sign for this date, Pisces, with its deep, flowing waters, seems fitting for a day marked by such powerful currents of change.
Holidays & Observances on March 17
- Birthday of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman (Bangladesh)
- Children's Day (Bangladesh)
- Evacuation Day (Suffolk County, Massachusetts)
- Saint Patrick's Day, a public holiday in Ireland, Montserrat and the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador, widely celebrated in the English-speaking world and to a lesser degree in other parts of the world.
Fun & National Days on March 17
- Corned Beef and Cabbage Day — Slow-cook this hearty Irish-American classic and savor the tender, peppery brisket with buttery cabbage on the side.
- Submarine Day — Dive deep into naval history or simply enjoy a hearty submarine sandwich stacked with your favorite fillings.
- Doctor-Patient Trust Day — Send a thoughtful note to a physician who has made a difference in your life or your family's health journey.
- Camp Fire Girls Day — Celebrate the legacy of this historic youth organization by gathering around a real or virtual campfire with friends.
- St. Patrick's Day
- World Social Work Day
On This Day in History
- -45 — Julius Caesar secured his final military triumph at the Battle of Munda, defeating Pompeian forces led by Titus Labienus and Pompey the Younger.
- 180 — Commodus ascended as sole emperor of Rome at just eighteen years old following the death of his father, Marcus Aurelius.
- 1337 — Edward the Black Prince received the title Duke of Cornwall, marking the creation of England's very first duchy.
- 1776 — British forces withdrew from Boston after George Washington and Henry Knox positioned artillery overlooking the city, ending the siege.
- 1861 — The Kingdom of Italy was officially proclaimed, a pivotal moment in the Risorgimento that unified the Italian peninsula under a single monarchy.
- 1921 — The Second Polish Republic adopted its March Constitution, establishing a democratic framework for the newly independent nation.
- 1950 — Scientists at the University of California, Berkeley announced the synthesis of element 98, naming the new discovery californium.
- 1958 — The United States launched the first solar-powered satellite, which also became the first spacecraft to maintain a long-term orbit around Earth.
- 1969 — Golda Meir was sworn in as the first female Prime Minister of Israel, becoming one of the world's most prominent women leaders.
- 1992 — South Africans overwhelmingly approved a referendum to end apartheid, with nearly 69% voting to dismantle the racist system.
- 2003 — British Cabinet minister Robin Cook resigned in protest over government plans to invade Iraq, a dramatic stand against the impending war.
Famous Birthdays on March 17
- 1834 — Gottlieb Daimler, German engineering pioneer who co-founded the company that would become Mercedes-Benz, helping invent the modern automobile.
- 1902 — Bobby Jones, American amateur golfer and lawyer who founded Augusta National Golf Club and co-created the Masters Tournament.
- 1919 — Nat King Cole, Velvet-voiced American singer and pianist who became the first African American to host a national television variety show.
- 1938 — Rudolf Nureyev, Russian-born ballet virtuoso whose electrifying leaps and defection to the West redefined male dancing in the twentieth century.
- 1964 — Rob Lowe, American actor whose career spans from 1980s Brat Pack films to acclaimed television dramas like The West Wing.
- 1992 — John Boyega, British actor who rose to international fame as Finn in the Star Wars sequel trilogy and advocates for diversity in film.
- 1997 — Katie Ledecky, American distance swimmer whose dozens of world records and Olympic gold medals make her the most dominant freestyler in history.