Start Of Spring, Daylight Saving, St. Paddy's: Need-To-Know Dates

March came in like a lion — with a toothache — for much of the country, but hang in there. Spring officially arrives Tuesday, March 20, and people are already starting to shake off winter and fill the calendar with events here in Illinois. Despite more snow (and rain) in the forecast for this week, spring will be here before you know it.

Spring arrives when the vernal equinox officially arrives at 11:15 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time on the 20th. That’s when the Northern Hemisphere starts to tilt toward the sun, bringing earlier sunrises, later sunsets, softer winds and green plants sprouting from the ground. In theory. Let’s hope so.

Here are five need-to-know dates for spring in Illinois:

March 8: International Women’s Day takes on added prominence this year due to the #MeToo movement that gave voice to throngs of women to talk about issues ranging from sexual harassment to pay equality.The Illinois Women's Conference is set for a day earlier, March 7, in Chicago. What woman most inspires you and why? Tell us in the comments.

March 11: Daylight Saving Time actually arrives before the start of spring. Remember the maxim — spring forward, and set your clock ahead an hour. Most cell phones and devices will automatically update.

March 17: St. Patrick’s Day falls on a Saturday this year, so expect extra revelry this year. Some Chicago-area towns have already hosted their St. Patrick's parades, and you can relive them here: Manhattan Irish Parade and the Oak Forest Fleadh parade. Here's a sampling of local St. Patrick's Day events still to come:

• St. Patrick's Day Parade/Dyeing the Chicago River Green - March 17
• Southside Irish Parade - March 11
• Plainfield Hometown Irish Parade - March 11
• Lemont St. Patrick's Day Parade - March 10
• St. Patrick's Day Parade/St. Paddy's 5K Naperville - March 10

March 24: The national “March for our Lives” rally protesting gun violence and calling for an end to school shootings takes place in Washington, D.C., and many cities across the country. Local students are hosting a March 24 March For Our Lives Chicago, tentatively beginning in Grant Park. The national event is being spearheaded by students in Parkland, Florida, who survived the Feb. 14 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Many other states have sister events — find them here.

March 30: This date marks important religious holidays for Christians and Jews. It’s Good Friday, which begins the four-day Easter observance for Christians. For Jews, it’s the beginning of the seven-day Passover observance.

Patch file photo