For more than 100 years, countries across the globe have been celebrating Women’s Day, honouring and celebrating the work, struggles, and achievements of women throughout history. As March comes to an end, let’s dive into the history behind this globally celebrated day and how different countries and cultures have celebrated this day.
Modern-day versions of International Women’s Day are commonly dedicated to a particular theme, with 2022 dedicated to “Gender Equality today for a sustainable tomorrow.”, and supported by the hashtag, #BreakTheBias.
How Did International Women’s Day Come about?
International Women’s Day was created as a culmination of several global movements which sought to empower women and support women’s rights. It took some time for the commemoration to take on its final form, with one of the original events taking place in the United States in February 1909, and the first celebrated International Women’s Day was celebrated on the 18th of March 1911, marked by more than a million people across Denmark, Austria, Germany, and Switzerland.
International Women’s Day originally had no set date, although it was commonly celebrated in late February or early March. In recent years, International Women’s Day has been embraced by many political groups, corporations, and other groups.
How Different Countries Celebrate Women’s Day
Celebrations and traditions linked to International Women’s day vary widely, with practices and individual history informing many of the modern-day celebrations.
Rallies and protests have been a part of the history of Women’s Day since its inception, and have continued to form part of the contemporary versions of International Women’s Day celebrations. The very date of International Women’s Day was partly chosen to mark one of the most important women’s protests which took place on this day – a protest in Russia in 1917, which saw women take to the streets to demand the end of war shortages and World War I. The 2022 International Women’s Day saw protests and rallies in Argentina, Chile, Spain, Australia, Turkey, Romania, many dedicated to protesting gender-based violence, inequality, political bias, military action, women’s rights, and more. The invasion of Ukraine was a critical discussion point, with many leaders and groups highlighting the experiences of Ukrainian women.
Some countries celebrate International Women’s Day by offering women the day, or part of the day, off of work, with China and Nepal including official or unofficial holidays that include time off from work responsibilities.
Flowers are also a traditional part of International Women’s Day celebrations, with countries like Italy, Ukraine, Poland, and more including flowers as one of the traditional gifts that men offer women on this day.
Additional International Women’s Day Celebrations include art installations, lectures, workshops, sunrise swimming sessions, videos and more.