“No matter where you go, you can encounter the power of a woman, she runs a company in the most efficient way, and she raises her children in a way that nobody ever can think of doing!”
International Women’s Day Is Celebrated On 8 March
While the first observance of a Women’s Day was held on February 28, 1909 in New York, March 8 was suggested by the 1910 International Woman’s Conference to become an “International Woman’s Day.”
After women gained suffrage in Soviet Russia in 1917, March 8 became a national holiday there. The day was then predominantly celebrated by the socialist movement and communist countries until it was adopted in 1975 by the United Nations.
The Theme For International Women’s Day 2018
The theme for International Women’s Day, 8 March 2018 , is “Time is Now: Rural and Urban activists transforming women’s Lives”. This year, International Women’s Day comes for women’s rights, equality and justice.
Symbol For International Women’s Day
The International Women’s Day logo is in purple and white and features the symbol of Venus, which is also the symbol of being female.
The faces of women of all backgrounds, ages, and nations are also seen in various promotions, such as posters, postcards and information booklets, on International Women’s Day.
Various messages and slogans that promote the day are also publicized during this time of the year.
What colors signify International Women’s Day
Internationally, purple is a color for symbolizing women. Historically the combination of purple, green and white to symbolize women’s equality originated from the Women’s Social and Political Union in the UK in 1908.
Purple signifies justice and dignity.
Green symbolizes hope.
White represents purity, but is no longer used due to ‘purity’ being a controversial concept.
Yellow representing a ‘new dawn’ is commonly used to signify a second wave of feminism.
Why We Celebrate Women’s Day
International Women’s Day is a collective day of global celebration and a call for gender parity. No one government, NGO, charity, corporation, academic institution, women’s network or media hub is solely responsible for International Women’s Day.
Many organizations declare an annual IWD theme that supports their specific agenda or cause, and some of these are adopted more widely with relevance than others.
“The story of women’s struggle for equality belongs to no single feminist nor to any one organization but to the collective efforts of all who care about human rights,” says world-renowned feminist, journalist and social and political activist Gloria Steinem.
Thus International Women’s Day is all about unity, celebration, reflection, advocacy and action – whatever that looks like globally at a local level. But one thing is for sure, International Women’s Day has been occurring for well over a century – and continue’s to grow from strength to strength.
How To Celebrate Women’s Day
International Women’s Day events are held worldwide on March 8. Various women, including political, community, and business leaders, as well as leading educators, inventors, entrepreneurs, and television personalities, are usually invited to speak at various events on the day.
Such events may include seminars, conferences, luncheons, dinners or breakfasts. The messages given at these events often focus on various themes such as innovation, the portrayal of women in the media, or the importance of education and career opportunities.
Many students in schools and other educational settings participate in special lessons, debates or presentations about the importance of women in society, their influence, and issues that affect them.
In some countries school children bring gifts to their female teachers.
Women receive small presents from friends or family members.
Many workplaces make a special mention about International Women’s Day through internal newsletters or notices, or by handing out promotional material focusing on the day.
International Women’s Day, is a public holiday in some countries
- Azerbaijan.
- Armenia.
- Belarus.
- Kazakhstan.
- Moldova
- Russia.
- Ukraine.
Many businesses, government offices, educational institutions are closed in the above-mentioned countries on this day, where it is sometimes called Women’s Day.
International Women’s Day is a national observance in many other countries. Some cities may host various wide-scale events such as street marches, which may temporarily affect parking and traffic conditions.
