International Women's Day is celebrated on March 8 every year, and it is a globally influential and highly valued holiday. I don't know how much do you know about Women's Day? The following is a list of the origins and customs of Women's Day in 2024.
Origin of Women's Day
3.8International Women's Day is a holiday for women all over the world. This day is recognized by the United Nations and is also recognized as an official holiday in many countries. Women from all over the world, despite being distinguished by different borders, races, languages, cultures, economies and politics, are able to celebrate their own festival at the same time. Let us recall the struggle for equality, justice, peace and development 90 years ago.
On March 8, 1920, women workers in Chicago, Illinois, USA, and workers in the textile and garment industries across the country held a huge demand for increased wages, an eight-hour workday, and the right to vote. This was the first organized mass struggle of working women in history, and it fully demonstrated the strength of working women.
The struggle won widespread sympathy and enthusiastic response from the masses of women throughout the country and even in other countries around the world, and finally won the victory. In August 1920, the Second International Women's Congress of the International Socialists was held in Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark. Representatives of 17 countries attended the meeting, and the main issues discussed at the meeting were to oppose imperialism's arms expansion and war, and to defend world peace. The protection of the rights of women and children, the struggle for the eight-hour workday and women's suffrage were also discussed.
Clara Zetkin's initiative to observe 8 March as the Day of Struggle for Women around the world was unanimously supported by the delegates. March 8, 1920 was the first International Women's Day.
Women's Day customs
March 8 is International Women's Day, but around the world, in addition to "March 8", there are many women-exclusive festivals, and they are almost every month.
Power DayEvery year on January 4, the "Women's Power Day" in some parts of Switzerland, during the four-day festival, women decide all the affairs of the family, and men "close".
Courtship Day falls on the 29th of February in leap month, which is the "Women's Courtship Day" in the old British custom. On this day, women can break away from the rules and precepts of the world and boldly make a bold gesture to the person they want or the lover who has not made up their minds. Spain's "Mayor's Day" is also in February. On that day, women were in charge of municipal affairs and gave orders, and men who disobeyed were attacked by the public.
Girls' DayMarch 3 is Japan's "Girls' Day", also known as "Girls' Day", which is a national holiday. The Japanese believe that this is the time of the spring of hearts, which is a symbol of female beauty, so it is also called the "Peach Blossom Festival".
Mother's DayIn April, there is a three-day Women's Day in Nepal, and women from all over the world, draped in red "sarongs", flock to the Pasupati Temple in the capital Kathmandu. After they had eaten their husband's food, they sang praises in front of the statues. In India, there is a "Mother's Day" this month. On this day, mothers wear colorful "sarongs" and various jewelry, which looks graceful. It is also the most respected day of the year for them.
Mother's DayThe second Sunday in May is Mother's Day in the United States, Canada, and some European countries, and its main content is to honor mothers. On this day, family members in the United States are customary to wear caryophyllus and do things that make their mothers happy. May 29 is the "Mother's Day" in Central Africa, and mothers take their children to participate in the parade. On the third Sunday of May, it is the "Hundred Women's Day" in Spain, and the girls who have not yet passed the door of the engagement hold flowers and bless each other.
The "Mrs. Festival" is held from August 23 to September 15 in Hamburg, Germany. Performing arts groups made up of women celebrate the occasion by staging plays that promote equality between men and women. August 12 is Thailand's "Mother's Day".
Carnival October 10-15 is the "Women's Carnival" in the Rhine region of Germany. During this period, women were "in great freedom". Men are not allowed to investigate women's activities, and offenders are caught and questioned. October 17 is Women's Day in the Republic of Malawi, Africa, and there is a national celebration on this day, when men take good care of their wives and serve them attentively.
The day of rest is from December 31 to noon the next day, which is the "rest day of the housewife" in Greece. On this day, women do nothing in the house, and all the housework is done by men.
Women's Day Origins
On March 8, 1857, women garment and textile workers in New York, USA, held a ** to oppose inhumane working conditions, 12-hour work, and low wages. The marchers were besieged and dispersed by the police, and two years later, again in March, the women formed their first union.
In April 1904, China's "Women's Circle" published "The Theory of the Revolution of the Women's Family", and the "Shenzhou Women's Daily" published the "Theory of the Revolution of the Women's Family".
On January 14, 1907, China Women's Daily was founded in Shanghai. Qiu Jin is the editor-in-chief and publisher. The newspaper said: "The purpose of this newspaper is to open up the atmosphere, to promote women's education, to connect feelings, to form groups, and to create the foundation for the establishment of the Chinese Women's Association in other days." There are columns such as "Editorial", "Translation", "Wenyuan", and "News". The newspaper publicized women's emancipation in easy-to-understand language and called on women to go out into society and fight for independence in personality and dignity.
On March 8, 1908, 15,000 women marched in New York City to demand shorter working hours, higher wages for labor, the right to vote, and a ban on child labor. Their slogan is "Bread and Roses", bread symbolizes economic security, and roses symbolize a better quality of life. In May, the Socialist Party of America decided to make the last Sunday of February the last Sunday of the country Women's Day.