International Women’s Day: Origin and Ceremonies
International Women’s Day: Origin and Ceremonies
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International Woman’s day is now on its way. Many people doesn't  know what it is and when it is. You can hear it in any media or social platforms but do you know anything about it? Is this day is a celebration or a protest? And does International Man's Day also exists?

Here are some of the facts about this day:

When did it all started?

International Woman's Day grew out of the labor movement. The seeds of it were planted in 1908, when 15,000 women marched through New York City for their rights. Main topics of their march was, demand of shorter working hours, better pay and the right to vote. It was the Socialist Party of America who declared the first National Woman's Day.

The idea of international woman day came from a woman called Clara Zetkin. She suggested the idea in 1910 at an International Conference of Working Women in Copenhagen. There were 100 women there, from 17 countries, and they agreed.

It was first celebrated in 1911, in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland. The centenary was celebrated in 2011, so this year we're technically celebrating the 107th International Woman's Day.

Things were made official in 1975 when the United Nations (UN) started celebrating the day and later set an annual theme. The first one (in 1996) was "Celebrating the past, Planning for the Future".

International Women's Day has become a date to celebrate how far women have come in society, in politics and in economics, while the political roots of the day mean strikes and protests are often organised to raise awareness of continued inequality.

When is it?

8 March. Clara Zetkin's initial idea for an International Women's Day was not formalized until a war-time strike in 1917 when Russian women demanded "bread and peace". Four days into the woman's strike the provisional government granted women the right to vote. The date when the woman's strike commenced on the Julian calendar, which was then used in Russia, was Sunday 23 February. This day in the Gregorian calendar was 8 March - and that's when this day is celebrated.

How is Woman's Day celebrated around the world?

International Woman's Day is a national holiday in Russia including in many countries , where the sales of flowers doubles during the three or four days around 8 March as men and women give flowers to their female loved ones and co-workers.

In China, many women are given a half-day off work on 8 March, as advised by the State Council.

In Italy, International Woman's Day is celebrated by the giving of mimosa blossom. The origin of this tradition is unclear but it is believed to have started in Rome after World War Two.

In the US, the month of March is Woman's History Month. A presidential proclamation issued every year honors the achievements of American women.

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