Today March 8th Is International Women’s Day (IWD) : 7 Astonishing Facts You Never Knew About
Hay Beautiful! Every day is your day. Let us celebrate women economically, socially, culturally, and politically!
Women – A robust word that makes you feel the chain of emotions including pain, sacrifice, anger, ecstasy, and strong. No matter whatever the hindrances they go through, women would always come out of the cave with that “chin-up” attitude. In the end, it is always going to be women creating their world, a better world to live. Gone are the days of being “Angel in the House” and it is now time to “kill the angel in you”. A time to celebrate the achievements of women and appreciating women of your life not only on this special but also every single day of our life. Here are a few unknown facts about International Women’s Day celebration.
EMANATION OF IWD IS ABOUT 100 YEARS AGO: National Women’s Day was earlier held on February 28th, 1909 in New York which was organized by the Socialist Party of America through the suggestion of an activist named Theresa Malkiel. Later, in August 1910, German Socialist, Luise Zietz under the influence of American socialists initiated the establishment of an annual Women’s Day. It was then backed up by fellow socialist and later communist leader Clara Zetkin and supported by socialist activist Kate Duncker but no date was announced at that particular conference. However, it was supported by the delegates from different countries as they agreed to the idea of promoting equal rights which also include suffrage for women. Howbeit, Americans continued to celebrate National Women’s Day on the last Sunday of February.
RUSSIA PROVIDES VOTING RIGHTS TO WOMEN ALONG WITH THE CELEBRATION: In 1913, Russian women proposed their first International Women’s Day on the last Sunday of February. Later, in 1914 International Women’s Day was established on March 8 in Germany as that was Sunday. Followed by Germany, now all other countries started celebrating women’s Day on March 8 yearly. In 1917, Russian women started the day with a strike for “bread and peace” to protest against World War I and promote gender parity. As a result of this protest, the provisional Government granted women in Russia, the right to vote.
SEVERAL COUNTRIES PRONOUNCED IWD AS AN OFFICIAL HOLIDAY: Multiple countries have announced an official holiday on International Women’s Day. Could you believe it a day of celebration turned out to be an official holiday? Several countries that have an official holiday on IWD include Afghanistan, Georgia, Laos, Cambodia, Armenia, Belarus, Montenegro, Russia, and Ukraine where March 8th is an official holiday.
UN ENDORSED IWD ONLY IN 1975: United Nations officially adopted International Women’s Day in 1975 and it was the first time Women’s Day was celebrated on March 8th. Later, the UN has turned out to be the primary sponsor of the events and also motivates other countries to pronounce holidays. The aim of the celebration is all about “the courage and determination by ordinary women who played an extraordinary role in the history of their countries and communities.”
AMALGAMATION OF CELEBRATION – MOTHER’S DAY WITH WOMEN’S DAY: Countries such as Serbia, Albania, Macedonia, and Uzbekistan have the combined celebration of Mother’s day with Women’s Day. It doubles the appreciation and celebration of women in several ways and children give their sweet mothers and grandmothers small gifts as a symbol of love and appreciation.
IWD COMES WITH AN OFFICIAL THEME: What’s there with the theme? Well, The celebration is all about the theme which portrays the entire deeds of women and their brave acts. It was in 1996, the UN established a theme for the year’s celebration as “Celebrating the Past, Planning for the Future.” In 1997, “Women at the Peace Table” and they have been continuing the theme tradition every year. In 2019, it was “Better the balance, better the world.” And this year it is going to be ” I am Generation Equality: Realizing Women’s Rights”. International Women’s Day 2021 Theme: ‘Women in leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world.’
TEN VALUES OF IWD: International Women’s Day has been celebrated with ten values including justice, dignity, hope, equality, collaboration, tenacity, appreciation, respect, empathy, and forgiveness. Also the color, purple symbolizes women in general.
