March 8 is a global celebration of social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. It is also a day for activism to continue to organize and work towards women’s equality.
1. While the United Nations adopted International Women’s Day in 1975, the day was first recognized over 100 years ago.
According to the UN, The first National Woman's Day was observed in the United States in 1909. It was held to commemorate the 1908 garment workers' strike in New York, where women protested against poor working conditions following the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire, which killed 123 women and girls, and 23 men who were employed there.
As part of the peace movement during World War I, Russian women observed their first International Women's Day in 1913. On March 8th of the following year, women across Europe held rallies to protest the war or to express solidarity with other activists.
Today, March 8 is a global celebration of social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. It is also a day for activism to continue to organize and work towards women’s equality.
2. International Women’s Day is recognized around the world in different ways.
For some, it is a day of protest and organizing for change, while others use the day to focus on women’s achievements or celebrate the women in their lives. It is is an official holiday in several countries worldwide, including Afghanistan,] Angola, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, China (for women only), Cuba, Georgia, Germany (Berlin only), Guinea-Bissau, Eritrea, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Madagascar (for women only), Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Nepal, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, and Zambia.
In other countries, including Canada, it is not an official public holiday, but is widely observed.
3. International Women’s Day colours are purple, green, and white.
According to InternationalWomensDay.com, purple signifies justice, dignity, and loyalty to the cause. Green represents optimism, while white symbolizes purity (a more controversial concept now than when the colours were assigned by the Women’s Social and Political Union in 1908).