So the holiday is March 8th. The real story of “March 8” - read it for those who don’t know! Signs and beliefs

The entire beautiful half of humanity is looking forward to the whole year. International Women's Day is one of the most beloved holidays.

At first, March 8 had a strong political overtones, since the special date was designated not for celebrations, but for the fight for equality. The history of the holiday dates back to 1857, when the famous “March of the Empty Pots”, the first women's strike, took place in America.

Then strikes broke out again, spontaneously. And then Clara Zetkin, at a congress in Copenhagen, put forward a proposal to declare March 8th International Women's Day, so that all women on the planet who zealously stand up for their rights could be legally heard on this day. Since then, the name of Clara Zetkin has been inextricably linked with the holiday of spring and beauty, despite the strong politicization of the chosen date.

The creation of International Women's Day was preceded by numerous women's strikes

This version of the origin of the holiday is the most correct today, although there are others. Scientists, linguists, and historians are still arguing about the origin of women's favorite day off.

But, the church is absolutely sure that the holiday of a revolutionary woman is not needed in our country, where the church was oppressed, if not completely crushed, by scientific atheism. The church put forward the idea of celebrating Women's Day in the third week of Easter, however, March 8 still stood.

And in 1966, by the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, the date became officially confirmed and acquired the state status of a “weekend” day. And after the collapse of the UNION, March 8 remained among the official ones. Not every holiday has retained such privileges, however, International Women's Day has endured, as if to confirm the glory of women's resilience and strength.

Ideologists of the creation of International Women's Day - Clara Zetkin and Rosa Luxemburg

Today, few people remember and reflect on the origin of the holiday and its rich history. On March 8, the world turns into a fragrant garden, as every man strives to bestow his beloved with a bouquet of flowers, gifts and warm words.

It is customary for work teams to organize corporate parties on this day, set tables and congratulate beautiful ladies on the holiday of Spring, Beauty and Tenderness. Management usually issues bonuses for the heroes of the occasion.

Almost all cities are preparing festive events, concerts, performances, exhibitions, sales, and promotions. Congratulations, favorite songs and films, interviews with famous women and top officials of the state are constantly heard on radio and television.

The political meaning of the holiday has long ago exhausted itself, however, and today there are feminist groups and detachments that organize various kinds of demonstrations and processions on March 8, trying to attract attention to themselves in order to publicly declare their problems.

Most women prefer to spend the holiday with their family, exchanging congratulations with each other, basking in the tenderness of men who on this day make a lot of effort to become an ideal husband, father, son, brother, even for a day.

Over the decades, the real history of the March 8 holiday has acquired more than one legend. Whoever has been credited with the origins of Women's Day. We will tell the truth about March 8, which everyone should know.

International Women's Day has its roots in the centuries-old struggle of women for the right to participate in public life on an equal basis with men. History knows more than one amazing story about how women tried to choose rights equal to men.

Back in the days of Ancient Greece, Lysistrata provoked a sexual protest against men in order to end the war. And during the events of the French Revolution, Parisian women who stood for “liberty, equality and fraternity” marched on Versailles to be given the right to vote.

Today, the holiday of March 8 is perceived completely differently than a hundred years ago, calling it a holiday of spring, beauty and women. But the real history of the March 8 holiday was not so cloudless and easy.

The history of the March 8 holiday began in 1908, when more than 15 thousand women took to the streets of New York calling for equal rights with men. They demanded a reduction in working hours and equal pay conditions with men. The protesters also demanded women's suffrage. A year later, the US authorities declared the last Sunday of February as National Women's Day, and celebrated it until 1913.

In 1910, a delegation of American women came to Copenhagen (Denmark) for the Second International Conference of Socialist Women, which was attended by communist Clara Zetkin. She called for the establishment of International Women's Day, on which women can hold rallies and marches against poverty, for the right to work, for respect for their dignity and for peace. In European countries, International Women's Day was first celebrated on March 19, 1911.

Namely - in Germany, Austria, Denmark, Switzerland, Holland. It was on this day in 1948 that the King of Prussia, fearing an armed uprising, promised to carry out a number of reforms, including the provision of suffrage for women. However, in 1912 the holiday was celebrated on May 12. And in 1913 in Germany it was celebrated on March 12, in Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Switzerland, Holland - on March 9, in France - on March 2.

In Tsarist Russia, the history of the March 8 holiday began in 1913, and it was also accompanied by rallies and demonstrations. So, on March 8, 1917, according to the new style (February 23, according to the old style), a strike of textile workers took place, which was followed by a procession with slogans about equal rights for women. This, in fact, was one of the waves of protests that led to the February Revolution. The holiday of March 8 coincided with a turning point in the history of Russia, and therefore became stronger in the USSR.

Somewhere before the 70s, the history of the March 8 holiday was mainly associated with revolutionaries and their struggle for women's independence. Based on the history of the March 8 holiday in different parts of the world, it becomes clear that it arose as an instrument of emancipation and respect for women.

In Soviet times, the holiday of March 8 was declared a non-working day in 1965 “in commemoration of the outstanding services of Soviet women in communist construction, in defending the Motherland during the Great Patriotic War, their heroism and dedication at the front and in the rear, as well as noting the great contribution of women to strengthening friendship between peoples and the struggle for peace.” 1975 was declared the International Women's Year by the United Nations. Since then, March 8 has officially become International Women's Day.

Since the 80s, the holiday of March 8 has become increasingly depoliticized, and by the 90s, the pathos of past revolutions had completely disappeared. It began to be perceived as “Women’s Day.”

Versions about who invented Women's Day

In addition, disputes continue over who actually came up with March 8th. There is more than one amazing version.

One of the versions who came up with March 8 is the most scandalous, and talks about the protest of prostitutes in 1857 in New York (which historians eventually replaced with “textile workers”). They demanded payment of wages to sailors who could not pay for their services. And on March 8, 1894, already in Paris, women of the oldest profession again held a rally. They demanded that their rights be equalized with seamstresses and bakers, and that special trade unions be established. Such demonstrations took place in Chicago in 1895 and in New York in 1896.

By the way, Clara Zetkin herself also organized similar actions. In the same 1910, with Rosa Luxemburg, they brought prostitutes onto the streets of Germany, demanding to stop the excesses of the police (in the Soviet version they were called “working women”).

Also interesting is the version about who came up with March 8 and made the choice on the “eight”. After all, the holiday of March 8 was celebrated on March 8 in 1914. It is believed that the number “eight” was chosen jointly by Clara Zetkin and Rosa Luxemburg, because the number is very reminiscent of the outline of a woman’s body.

Another version of the choice of the “eight” refers us to the events of the textile workers’ strike in Russia in 1917, which took place on February 23 according to the old style, that is, on March 8 according to the new style.

How the tradition of giving flowers, sweets and gifts on International Women’s Day arose, the history of the March 8 holiday is silent. They are only inclined to believe that the idea apparently arose when the revolutionary context began to disappear from Women’s Day.

In Germany and France, the holiday was either celebrated or forgotten about at different times in history. It is customary to celebrate Mother's Day there, as well as congratulate girls on Valentine's Day.

In Bulgaria, for example, women themselves have an ambivalent attitude towards International Women's Day, often even forgetting about its celebration.

Italian and Lithuanian March 8th does not have the status of a public holiday, but every year on this day women get together and spend it noisily and cheerfully.

But our neighbors, the Poles and Belarusians, do not neglect to once again congratulate their mothers, grandmothers, and sisters on the holiday of March 8th. But unlike Belarus, for the Poles this day is a working day.

Cubans throw loud feasts in honor of International Women's Day, during which they express their love and respect for women.

March 8th is also a national holiday in countries such as China, North Korea, Angola, Burkina Faso, Guinea-Bissau, Cambodia, Laos, Mongolia and Uganda. In Georgia, both March 8 is celebrated as International Women's Day and Mother's Day is celebrated on March 3.

Along with Ukraine, March 8 is celebrated in Azerbaijan, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Moldova, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Abkhazia and Russia. In 2018, Ukraine planned to cancel the March 8 holiday and make it a working day. But fortunately, the initiative did not pass.

The holiday is celebrated according to the directive of the United Nations every year on the eighth of March. It was originally introduced to focus attention on the rights of women seeking emancipation (equal rights with the male sex). Today the date has almost lost its political connotation, although on this day they remember the participants in the resistance for women's rights, the holiday has become romantic. It is perceived as another reason to bestow attention and gifts on the fair half of humanity, to congratulate mothers, grandmothers, sisters, colleagues, and loved ones. The eighth of March became a holiday of spring rebirth, love, and worship of women.

history of the holiday

The beautiful half of humanity constantly fought against the oppressed position in society. It switched to open struggle only in the twentieth century. On March 8, 1908, a rally of thousands of New York women took place. Demands were put forward to reduce the length of the work shift, adequate payment for working hours (equal to the male gender), and obtaining the right to take part in the election system.

In 1910, Clara Zetkin, as the undisputed leader of the German socialist movement, speaking at an event on emancipation issues, proposed introducing a single day dedicated to women for the entire planet. It was assumed that protest events would be timed to coincide with this date in order to draw attention to the women's problem.

After 4 years, the date was celebrated by 6 states at once (Russia was among them). The Bolsheviks on February 23 (Julian style March 8) 1917 used the women's festival in the capital to organize mass protests. The women's procession was joined by columns of Petrograd workers, so the result was a mixed procession, without any discrimination.

Soviet Russia (1921) decided to celebrate Women's Day on March 8 to perpetuate the memory of the participation of Russian women in the Petrograd demonstration. Gradually, for the residents of the country, it is losing its political significance. In 1966 it was made a day off. Since 1975, the United Nations has begun to organize regular events for International Women's Day.

International Women's Day (or the UN International Day for Women's Rights and International Peace) is celebrated on March 8th.

In a number of countries, International Women's Day March 8 is a national holiday: in China, North Korea, Angola, Burkina Faso, Guinea-Bissau, Cambodia, Laos, Mongolia and Uganda.

After the collapse of the USSR, some republics of the former Union continue to celebrate March 8, some hastened to get rid of the Soviet legacy. In Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Moldova, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Ukraine, Abkhazia, March 8 is still celebrated as International Women's Day.

In Tajikistan, on the initiative of the country's president, since 2009 the holiday began to be called Mother's Day. This day remains a non-working day in Tajikistan.

In Turkmenistan, International Women's Day was not celebrated until 2008 - the women's holiday was moved to March 21 (vernal equinox), combined with Navruz - the national spring holiday, and was called the National Spring and Women's Day. In January 2008, President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov introduced changes to the Labor Code and

Initially, it had a purely political coloring and was a day of women’s struggle for their rights and equality with men. But time has washed away the political coloring from the holiday and today we celebrate the holiday of spring and love.

Story

There is a version that the tradition of celebrating March 8 is associated with the “March of Empty Pots,” which was held on this day in 1857 by New York textile workers. Their main demands were a reduction in working hours, equal pay conditions with men, and the right to vote. However, this fact is not documented.

But the origin of the holiday is firmly associated with the name of the German communist Clara Zetkin. In 1910, at a women's forum in Copenhagen, Clara Zetkin called on the world to establish International Women's Day on March 8th. On this day, women were supposed to organize rallies and processions, and thereby draw public attention to their problems.

Since 1911, women in a number of countries have held rallies on International Women's Day that were aimed at eliminating gender inequality.

For several years, International Women's Day was celebrated in different countries at different times. On March 19, 1911, it took place in Germany, Austria, Denmark and other European countries. In 1912, women fought for their rights on a European scale on May 12, in 1914 - on March 8.

In 1945, the UN Charter was signed in San Francisco, which, among other things, became the first international agreement to proclaim gender equality as a fundamental human right.

And the UN declared 1975 the International Year of Women, and officially declared March 8 a holiday.

Gender equality is recognized by Member States as an important factor in achieving the UN priority goals of promoting peace and security, protecting human rights and development, as set out in the Millennium Declaration dated September 2000.

"The world labor market is changing and this has important implications for women. On the one hand, globalization and technological disruption are creating new opportunities, while on the other we are faced with challenges such as changes in financial and trade country policies, environmental consequences, irregular working hours, instability of earnings, uncertainty about the future. All these issues must be taken into account in the context of efforts to strengthen the economic potential of women,” the UN says.

Since 1965, in accordance with the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, International Women's Day has become a holiday and a non-working day. Gradually, in the USSR, the holiday completely lost its political overtones and connection to women’s struggle for their rights, and became simply International Women’s Day - March 8th.

In Georgia, the holiday, celebrated during the Soviet era, was abolished after its collapse, along with most other Soviet holidays.

However, in March 2002, under the second President of Georgia, Eduard Shevardnadze, by decision of the parliament, International Women's Day on March 8 again received the status of a holiday.

The initiator of this decision was Nino Burjanadze, who then served as chairman of the parliament.

Traditions

In less than 100 years of traditions, enough celebration traditions have accumulated. Different countries celebrate it differently - in some the holiday is celebrated on a larger scale, in others less.

In the territory of the former USSR, March 8 is celebrated practically everywhere, including in Ukraine, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.

In Vietnam, this day is a day off and is celebrated everywhere. Previously, this was in memory of the brave Trung sisters who fought against the Chinese invasion of Vietnam and died bravely, preferring death to captivity. Vietnam now celebrates March 8 as International Women's Day for their rights.

March 8 is also celebrated in China. This day is a day off in this country, but only for women. The men continue to work. On this day, Chinese women meet with friends, go to cafes and shops, in general, try to pamper themselves and their loved ones. And the men prepare the obligatory “Pumpkin of Loyalty” in the evening. The dish includes many different ingredients that are combined into a whole composition inside the pumpkin.

France does not celebrate March 8, but holds special events on this day, something like charity bazaars. The money collected is transferred to the heroine mothers' fund so that they can go on vacation.

Italy celebrates this day, although it has not declared it a holiday. On this day, Italian women gather in groups of women, meet in bars, chat and have food. And in the evening they go to a disco or club. Moreover, in Rome, men's strip clubs offer women free entry on this day.

This is a day when we all admire the outstanding deeds of women and present awards and memorial gifts. All women are given flowers and gifts. Among the flowers common on March 8 are mimosas and daffodils, snowdrops and tulips. However, of these, only mimosa has become a kind of unofficial symbol of the holiday.

Various events dedicated to women are held. Including exhibitions, concerts, flash mobs and so on.

But as a rule, March 8 is celebrated with family, friends and family. Men congratulate all the women close to them - mother, wife, mother-in-law, sister, daughter and try, if possible, to free them from all women's chores around the house.

The holiday is rich in traditions, but the most important of them is the special attention paid to women by men. Take care of your women, congratulate them, give flowers and gifts, pamper them, and not only on March 8, but on all other days.

The material was prepared on the basis of open sources.