Happy Square Root Day!

03/03/09 is the second Square Root Day this century

Christmas has come early for geeks around the world.

March 3, 2009 - 03/03/09 - is this decade's second "Square Root Day," when the month and day both form the square root of the year.

Math mavens are celebrating the holiday with square-root themed parties, contests and activities.

Redwood, Calif. teacher Ron Gordon, who has celebrated each Square Root Day since September 9, 1981, is sponsoring a contest to find the best expression of the holiday. The prize Gordon's offering is, of course, $339.

"These days are like calendar comets, you wait and wait and wait for them, you then they brighten up your day and - poof - they're gone," Gordon told the Associated Press.

Number-crunchers will party like it's 03/03/09 by indulging in the holiday's official celebratory meal - a plate of root vegetables cut into squares - or planning events like square dances.

"Square roots are like the fountain of youth," Gordon told The Punxsatawney Spirit.

"In October, I'll turn a mere 8-squared," Gordon said.

The last Square Root Day was Feb. 2, 2004 - Groundhog Day - and the next will be on April 4, 2016.

March 3 is the second of nine Square Root Days this century.

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