The strong, proud history of females taking matters into their own hands and fighting against gender injustice and inequality is, in short, what Women’s Day is all about.

Though South Africa’s date for Women’s Day differs to the rest of the world (we hold ours nationally on the 9th of August), there’s still a sense of united female pride and the acknowledgement that no single gender or race is superior or inferior to another, and never could be. It follows that each gender, country, and continent has something unique and special to give to the world.

International Women’s Day is observed on the 8th of March, and happens to be a public holiday in Afghanistan, Angola, Cuba, Cambodia, Uganda, and many more. In several other countries, such as China, Madagascar, and Nepal, only women have the day off.

Yellow mimosa flowers. By Estitxu Carton(Flickr)

Traditions by Country

It is said that there are thousands of ways to show love and recognition. Below, you can read about some of the customary gifts given to the lovely ladies around the world.

  • In Italy, men give women a yellow mimosa.
  • In Russia and Albania, women usually get a yellow mimosa and chocolates.
  • In Portugal, women-only dinner parties are held on the 7th of March.
  • Most populations buy flowers for ladies on Women’s Day.
  • The Taiwanese government has a scheduled release of national women’s waist sizes, along with health warnings about weight gain.

Women's Day giving. By Campbelltown city council (Flickr)

Background on Women’s Day:

America

Officially, the first national Women’s Day took place in America in 1909, at the end of February. Two of the top moments for women’s rights in America are the Bread and Roses strike, which took place in 1912, and the Suffrage March which occurred in 1913. The first event took place when 20,000 female textile workers banded together to protest the low wages, while the second protest saw 8,000 women marched to Washington DC, to demand their right to vote. Today, the month of March in America is observed as Women’s History Month, and America celebrates International Women’s Day on the 8th of March.

Europe

The first-ever International Women’s Day was held  on the 19th March 1911 in Germany, Austria, Denmark, Switzerland, with nearly a million people celebrating this day. Numerous other European nations held parades and marches to bring attention to the gender discrimination in hiring and equal voting rights, while petitions were signed to allow women to stand for public office positions.

Women's Day in Afghanistan's Helmand Province. By DFID - UK Department for International Development (Flickr)

Russia

Russia joined in on the International Women’s Day celebrations in 1913 and held it on the last Sunday in February. A few years later, after the October Revolution in 1917, Vladimir Lenin declared that International Women’s Day would be a national holiday and would fall on the 8th March, but it remained a full working day for everyone, until 1965 saw Women’s Day become a public holiday.

South Africa

As noted in last year’s Women’s Day post, South Africa’s chosen date of the 9th of August was due to a protest which occurred in 1956. On this date, 20,000 women marched to the Union Buildings in Pretoria to protest a legislation stating that non-whites had to carry an ID document at all times. This all-female group was led by Lilian Ngoyi, Frances Baard, Rahima Moosa, Helen Joseph, and Sophie Williams. National Women’s Day has been commemorated in South Africa since 2004.

Code Pink protest on Women's Day 2009. By CODEPINK Women For Peace (Flickr)

Many countries have female protesters take to the streets on Women’s Day, for a variety of causes. Common banners worldwide include “Peace”, “Hope”, and “End the War”.

Let us know what you’re doing for the special ladies in your lives.

Main image credited to Campbelltown City Council (Flickr)