Image to carry on the first of March (5)
I believe the answer is:
totem
'image' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both man-made objects as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe you can see an association between them that I don't see?
'carry on the first of march' is the wordplay.
'carry' becomes 'tote' (toting is a kind of carrying).
'on' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other) (in a down clue, letters appear on others).
'the first of march' becomes 'm' (tst letter of 'march').
'tote'+'m'='TOTEM'
'to' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for totem that I've seen before include "symbol of spiritual significance" , "Tribal symbol (maybe on pole)" , "Badge of tribe etc" , "Idol" , "Animal as emblem" .)