March 8th is International Women’s Day

What is International Women’s Day?  a day celebrating the political, economic, and social achievements of women and a time when men throughout the world will honor the special women in their lives. Though the holiday is global, few countries celebrate International Women’s Day like Russia.

The History of International Women’s Day in Russia

 

In 1913, the women of Russia observed International Women’s Day for the first time. Female activists joined together to protest World War I and by 1914 women from other European countries added their voices to the protests in an expression of women’s solidarity.

The activism didn’t stop there. Inflamed by the deaths of over 2 million Russian soldiers in World War I, Russian women begin striking “for bread and peace” on March 8, 1917. The strike led to the eventual abdication of the Czar and the provisional government gave Russian women the right to vote. The protests helped paved the way for the Russian revolution and the rise of feminist Alexandra Kollontai. Kollontai fought for the rights of women and persuaded Lenin to make International Women’s Day a public holiday in the Soviet Union.

International Women’s Day Today

Over the years, International Women’s Day lost its feminist edge and has become more a celebration of women in general. Men honor women for their beauty, femininity, and mothering skills and present gifts of flowers, chocolate, perfume, makeup, etc. Breakfast in bed and a day’s respite from household chores are also treats Russian women enjoy on this special day. Though International Women’s Day has been called a mix of Mother’s Day and St. Valentine’s Day, the holiday is not exclusive to mothers, wives, or sweethearts. Men honor all women on March 8, so daughters, sisters, friends, and co-workers receive tokens of appreciation as well.

Though International Women’s Day began as an expression of women’s solidarity, the holiday is now more a celebration of women in general. On IWD, men honor women for their beauty, femininity, and mothering skills by presenting traditional gifts like flowers, chocolate, perfume, and more. Breakfast in bed and a day’s respite from household chores are also treats Russian women enjoy on this special day. Though International Women’s Day has been called a mix of Mother’s Day and St. Valentine’s Day, the holiday is not exclusive to mothers, wives, or sweethearts. Men honor all women on March 8, so daughters, sisters, friends, and co-workers receive tokens of appreciation as well.

If you want to impress your Ukrainian sweetheart, use International Women’s Day as a day to show her how much you care as this is the day that all men in Ukraine and Russia celebrate there moms , sister's and girlfriends and wives with flowers and gifts. To forget her on this day would be something she will never forgive.