The Ides of March

According to the Roman calendar the Ides of March occurred yesterday (March 15). A seminal moment in history mainly because this is the date (44 BC) when Julius Caesar was assassinated by Roman senators. But there's more to the often misunderstood and often parodied term.

"The Ides of March is a day on the Roman calendar that corresponds to March 15. It was marked by several religious observances, and became notorious as the date of the assassination of Julius Caesar in 44 BC. The death of Caesar made the Ides of March a turning point in Roman history, as one of the events that marked the transition from the historical period known as the Roman Republic to the Roman Empire. 

Although March (Martius) was the third month of the Julian calendar, in the oldest Roman calendar it was the first month of the year. The holidays observed by the Romans from the first through the Ides often reflect their origin as new year celebrations."