March 8 is "International Women's Day", a holiday of spring and increased attention to women. On March 8, our beautiful women expect tenderness, flowers and gifts from us. This is the tradition of this day. We all look forward to this holiday, we rejoice when it comes, but rarely does anyone delve into its original meaning. Over time, the meaning of the holiday on March 8 disappears completely, and we sometimes ask ourselves the question: what, exactly, and why do we celebrate March 8 on “International Women’s Day”?

March 8, initially, was not conceived as a day of glorification of the Beautiful Lady, but as a holiday of a revolutionary woman. It was this holiday that the Pravda newspaper at the dawn of the revolution called “the day of the Women’s Workers’ International”, this is the holiday of those women who strived and strive to be equal in rights with men, this is the day of emancipation. Unfortunately, at present the holiday has lost its former historical purpose. Although, in many countries, mass feminist actions still take place on this day, and many women perceive this day as a day of struggle against the stronger sex.


America, or the first women's union
In New York in 1857, on March 8, workers in clothing and shoe factories gathered for a demonstration. Their demands were improved working conditions, shorter working hours, and equal wages with men. In those days, women worked up to 16 hours a day and received pennies for their work. After decisive speeches, the men still managed to achieve the introduction of a 10-hour working day. At that time, trade union organizations began to emerge in many enterprises in the United States. On March 8, 1857, another trade union was formed - and women were its members for the first time. On this day in New York, hundreds of women demonstrated in many cities demanding suffrage.


Clara Zetkin
Europe. The history of the March 8 holiday is traditionally associated with Clara Zetkin. This woman created a revolutionary detachment, which consisted only of women, she decided to include the unstoppable energy of women in the fight against the exploiters. The creation of this detachment was not a matter of one day, but nevertheless it was decided to choose the day that could be considered the Birthday of the “female proletariat”.

In 1910, at the 2nd International Conference of Socialist Women in Copenhagen, at the proposal of Clara Zetkin to establish a “day of struggle for women’s rights,” a resolution was adopted to hold an annual women’s day, “which primarily serves to agitate for the granting of suffrage to women.” rights". This sounded like a call to all women in the world to rise up to fight for equality. In response to this call, many women from different countries are joining the fight against poverty, advocating for the right to work, respect for their dignity, and for peace.

At the suggestion of Elena Grinberg, a member of the Central Committee of the Social Democratic Party, the date of International Women's Day was approved as March 19. And it was on March 19 that the first International Women's Day was celebrated in Germany, Austria, Denmark and Switzerland. In 1912, it took place in the same countries, but on May 12. In 1913, due to organizational difficulties, there was complete inconsistency: in Germany they celebrated March 12, in Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Switzerland, and Holland on March 9, in France and Russia on March 2. But only in 1914, for the first time, International Women's Day was celebrated everywhere on March 8, due to its coincidence with Sunday, in other words, with a non-working day - a day off. So the holiday "International Women's Day" was fixed on this date.

Anti-Semitism... According to the very popular theory of Deacon Andrei Kuraev, the choice of the number belonged to Clara Zetkin, who connected the birth of a new detachment fighting against injustice with the history of the Jewish people. Many centuries ago, Queen Esther, with her cunning, saved the people from destruction. The annual, most joyful Jewish holiday - the holiday of Purim - is dedicated to this woman. It is celebrated at the transition from winter to spring, and in 1909 it was celebrated on the eve of March 8th.

The official position of the Russian Orthodox Church was unambiguously expressed by Alexy II at the end of 1991 in New York at a meeting with American rabbis: “The unity of Judaism and Christianity has a real basis of spiritual and natural kinship and positive religious interests. We are united with the Jews, without renouncing Christianity, not in spite of Christianity, but in the name and power of Christianity, and the Jews are united with us not in spite of Judaism, but in the name and power of true Judaism... The Jewish people are close to us in faith. Your law is our law, your prophets. - these are our prophets. The Ten Commandments of Moses oblige Christians, as well as Jews. We wish to live with you in peace and harmony, so that there is no misunderstanding, hostility and hatred between us."

Purim holiday - "Sibling brother" of Maslenitsa
Purim is not a religious holiday, it is the brother of our Maslenitsa, the European Carnival, the Greek Dionysia (or Bacchanalia), the Bulgarian Kukere, the Persian Novruz-Bayram. This is a holiday in honor of the beating of enemies and dates back to 480 BC, when the Old Testament people, the “stiff-necked” people, with the help of Esther’s cunning, freed themselves from the power of the Persians. The story of Queen Esther is described in detail in the book of the same name, which is part of the Bible.
Queen Esther is revered by our Church along with other Old Testament righteous people on the week of the Forefather (two weeks before the Nativity of Christ).

In Russia
For the first time in Russia, International Women's Day was celebrated in St. Petersburg in 1913. The petition addressed to the mayor announced the organization of “... a scientific morning on women's issues.” The authorities gave permission and on March 2, 1913, one and a half thousand people gathered in the building of the Kalashnikov Bread Exchange on Poltavskaya Street. The agenda of the scientific readings included the following issues: the right to vote for women; state provision of maternity; about the high cost of living.

From the first years of Soviet power, March 8 became a public holiday in our country. In March 1917, women in Russia received the right to vote, and the Constitution of 1918 enshrined the policy of equal rights for women as a state policy, and Soviet authorities began to implement it (it may be recalled that the Soviet idea of ​​“gender equality” led to the emergence of such a “purely female "Professions like asphalt paver...).

Gradually International Women's Day lost its political overtones.

Since 1965, this day has become a non-working day. There was also a festive and official ritual: at ceremonial events, the state reported to society on the implementation of state policy towards women.

But during the period of perestroika, many women were literally thrown to the margins of life. Terms appeared: “the female face of unemployment”, “violence against women”, “male parliament”, “maternal family”, “maternal mortality”, “social orphanhood”, “female alcoholism”. Discrimination against women in the labor market was officially recognized.

At the IV World Conference on Women (Beijing, 1995), the Government of the Russian Federation finally announced its obligations to eliminate all forms of discrimination against women. In 1996, the Concept for the Improvement of the Status of Women and the National Action Plan for the Improvement of the Status of Russian Women were adopted. Similar documents were adopted in the constituent entities of the Federation. However, neither on March 8, nor on Mother's Day in November, there were any reports on the implementation of these important government documents.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, March 8 remained on the list of public holidays in the Russian Federation. Women's Day is also celebrated in the CIS countries: in Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine as International Women's Day; in Belarus and Uzbekistan as Mother's Day; In Armenia, April 7, Motherhood and Beauty Day is celebrated.

XXI Century. Russia
“And God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them” (Genesis, chapter 1, v. 27). If human society had been guided in its development by these words, the need for International Women's Day would not have arisen, since women would not have to prove that they are people too and fight for their human rights.

But, alas, only in the 20th century did humanity, represented by its best representatives, grow to realize this truth, and in 1948 the United Nations adopted a document - the “Universal Declaration of Human Rights”, which says:
Article 1: All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and must act towards each other in a spirit of brotherhood.
Article 2: Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin. , property, class or other status.

The Declaration became the basis on which other international documents were adopted aimed at protecting the social, political, economic and universal rights of women (on September 1, 1985, the governments of 88 countries signed the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women).

But declaring a right and ensuring its implementation are completely different concepts. After all, even today women and children are subjected to violence and humiliation: this is human trafficking, forced prostitution, cruelty shown in armed conflicts and wars. Growing poverty and disregard for human rights are the root causes of violence, and poverty itself is already a form of violence. And as we know, the victims of poverty are primarily women and children.

The twentieth century was marked by socialist, scientific, technical, cultural and sexual revolutions, and one can only regret that in this series there was no place for a spiritual revolution. And without this, all the declarations and calls of the UN, UNESCO and other organizations will remain a voice crying in the wilderness.

Feast of the Myrrh-Bearing Women, or give women flowers not only on March 8th!
The founders of the Soviet state were militant atheists, and were unlikely to be guided by Jewish religious motives when choosing a date for “Women’s Day.” They needed to create their own system of beliefs, rites and rituals as opposed to the Church. Soviet traditions are a parody of spiritual life, a fake, a propaganda dummy. The party instead of the Church, the corpse of a leader instead of the Savior, portraits of leaders instead of icons, party congresses instead of church councils, demonstrations instead of religious processions... Instead of veneration of the Most Pure Mother of God, the lumpen worker-peasant crowd was offered “Women’s Day”, which fit so well into the Soviet calendar . And it’s hard to choose a better time to celebrate than early spring, when nature awakens from its winter sleep, the sun begins to shine like spring and the first snowdrop flowers bloom.

Our contemporaries do not think much about the origins of the celebration of March 8, but simply perceive this day as an occasion to give flowers to their dear women. But it is worth remembering and honoring traditions, especially since in the Orthodox Church the third Sunday after Easter is dedicated to the memory of the myrrh-bearing women, who on the morning of the Resurrection hurried to the Tomb of Christ and were the first to receive the joyful news of His rising from the dead. And if so, then let us remember that we can congratulate our wives and mothers, sisters and colleagues when the Church glorifies the care and fidelity of the myrrh-bearing women. And even better: let's not forget them on other days! That's why - give gifts and flowers to your beloved women not only on March 8th.

About the history of the holiday March 8, why exactly March 8 became Women's Day, when and how it was first celebrated March 8. This is a story about the holiday of March 8 for adults and children. Teachers can use the materials from this article when developing holiday classroom hours and scenarios dedicated to March 8th.

Today, almost the entire planet celebrates March 8 as a day of worship of a real woman, her beauty, wisdom and femininity, who save the world.

From the history of the holiday March 8

This beloved holiday on March 8 dates back to the traditions of Ancient Rome in the 1st century BC. It was believed that the goddess Juno, the wife of the great Jupiter, was endowed with great power and had enormous capabilities. She had many names: Juno-Calendar, Juno-Coin. .. She gave people good weather, harvest, good luck in business and opened every month of the year. But most of all, the Roman women worshiped Juno - Lucia (“the bright one”), who patronized women in general, and during childbirth in particular. She was revered in every home; gifts were brought to her upon marriage and at the birth of a child.

The most joyful holiday for the female half of Rome was March 1, dedicated to this goddess and called the Matrons. Then the whole city was transformed. Festively dressed women walked with wreaths of flowers in their hands to the temple of Juno Lucia. They prayed, brought gifts of flowers and asked their patroness for happiness in the family. It was a holiday not only for respectable Roman women, but also for slaves, whose work on this day was performed by male slaves. On March 1, men gave generous gifts to their wives, relatives and friends, and did not ignore maids and slaves...

In the modern world, Women's Day is celebrated on March 8th. The history of this holiday began in the 19th century, and it was dedicated to the day of the struggle for women's rights. It was on March 8, 1857 that a demonstration of women workers in clothing and shoe factories took place in New York. Then they demanded that they be given a ten-hour working day, acceptable working conditions and equal wages with men. Before this, women worked 16 hours a day and received mere pennies for it. After March 8, 1857, women's trade unions began to emerge, and women were given the right to vote for the first time. But only in 1910, at the International Women's Conference of Socialists in Copenhagen, Clara Zetkin proposed celebrating World Women's Day on March 8th. It was a kind of call to women all over the world to join the fight for independence and equality; and they responded by joining the struggle for the right to work, respect for their dignity, and for peace on earth. This holiday was first celebrated in 1911, but only on March 19, in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland. Then more than a million men and women took to the streets of these countries, and the demonstration took place under the slogan: “Suffrage for workers - to unite forces in the fight for socialism.” In Russia, International Women's Day was first celebrated in 1913 in St. Petersburg. Its organizers called for achieving economic and political equality for women. One of the most powerful performances by women took place in Petrograd on March 7, 1917. And in 1976, International Women's Day was officially recognized by the UN.

Today March 8 is a holiday of spring and light, a tribute to the traditional role of a woman as a wife, mother, and friend.

Who was the founder of the holidays on March 8: Clara Zetkin or Esther?

Many may have a question: was Clara Zetkin really the only ancestor of March 8? Historians also believe that the celebration of this holiday is associated with the legend of Esther. Many centuries ago, she saved her people from terrible death. Therefore, the most joyful holiday of the Jewish people, the holiday of Purim, is dedicated to her. It is celebrated almost at the same time as International Women's Day: at the end of winter - beginning of spring, on March 4.

Once upon a time, in 480 BC, all the Jews captured by the Babylonians gained freedom and could freely return back to Jerusalem. However, there were practically no people willing to leave Babylon, where the Jews spent almost their entire lives. Hundreds of thousands of Jews remained in the Persian Empire, and not at all as a labor force. Many of them managed to get a very good job and earn a good living.

Over time, the Jews became so accustomed to Babylon that even the indigenous inhabitants no longer understood who conquered whom: the Persians Jerusalem or the Jews Babylon. Then one of the ministers of the powerful ruler Xerxes, Haman, came to the king and told him that Jews had invaded their state. Xerxes decided to exterminate all the Jews.

His wife Esther, who hid her ethnic origin from her husband (she was Jewish), accidentally found out about Xerxes’ terrible plan. Clever Esther did not beg the king for mercy, but decided to use Xerxes’ love for herself. When the king was under the influence of her spell, she made him promise to destroy all the enemies of her people. Xerxes agreed to everything, and only some time later he discovered that he had promised his beloved wife to destroy all the enemies of the Jews, but it was no longer possible to retreat...

And on the 13th of Adar (a month in the Jewish calendar: approximately the end of February - the beginning of March), a royal decree regarding pogroms is spread throughout the Persian Empire. But it was radically different from what was originally intended to be created: Xerxes allowed this decree to be drawn up by Esther and her cousin and educator Mordecai.

“And the king’s scribes were called, and everything was written as Mordecai had ordered to the rulers of one hundred and twenty-seven regions in the name of the king - that the king allows the Jews who are in every city to gather and stand up for their lives, to destroy, to kill and destroy all the mighty in the people and in the region who are at enmity with them, children and wives, and plunder their goods” (Esther 8:8-11). And for two days “all the princes in the regions, and the satraps, and the executors of the king’s affairs supported the Jews. And the Jews slew all their enemies, and destroyed them, and dealt with their enemies according to their own will” (Esther 9:3-5).

The minister Haman, who gave Xerxes the idea of ​​exterminating the Jews, was executed by hanging along with his entire family. During this struggle, about 75 thousand Persians were destroyed. The Persian Empire was practically destroyed. The day of this significant victory for the Jews is still honored and celebrated.

Among the greatest sages, “there is even an opinion that when all the books of the prophets and hagiographers are forgotten, the book of Esther will still not be forgotten, and the holiday of Purim will not cease to be observed.”

Perhaps this legend was true, and Esther actually saved her people. And in gratitude for such a feat, Jews still honor the savior today, celebrating Purim. And everyone understands that such a legend about the celebration of World Women’s Day also has a right to exist.

Click to listen

March 8: the non-women's history of the holiday. The celebration of International Women's Day is usually associated with the leader (leader?) of the world communist movement Clara Zetkin, who proposed introducing this day in 1910. This happened at the Second International Women's Conference in Copenhagen. . But few people know that the holiday was originally celebrated on March 19th. And in general, in different countries the date was “floating”; in Russia, for example, in 1913 it was celebrated on March 2. But starting from 1914, March 8 was celebrated everywhere, because in the year the First World War began, March 8 fell on a Sunday, and the date was fixed. Some researchers associate this holiday with the Jewish Purim, when they remember Queen Esther, the wife of Xerxes, who prevented Jewish pogroms in Persia. The date of this holiday is also floating - but in 1910 it fell on March 8th. Some recall both the famous Judith and the day of the Harlots of Zion (Babylon). Others say that back in 1848, the King of Prussia (as a result of the workers’ uprising on March 8!), among other things, promised women the right to vote. And then they remember another socialist, Elena Grinberg, who proposed a specific date. But perhaps the closest thing to the truth is another event: on March 8, 1857, women workers in the textile industry and clothing factories of New York, protesting against women’s low wages and poor working conditions, organized a march through the streets of Manhattan. Let me remind you that these women had to work 16 hours a day for pennies! Democracy after all... But after these protests, women were “equalized” in rights with men, and they received a 10-hour working day (like men!!!). On March 8, 1901, the first ever protest march of women housewives took place in Chicago - the so-called “pot riot” or “march of empty pots.” Using these dishes as drums, women sought equal political rights, the opportunity to work in production without restrictions or restrictions, but most interestingly, the right to serve in the army and police. Since then, all leftist parties in the United States began to apply these demands in their programs. So the date of the holiday and its reasons can be discussed for a long time. But the main fact is that after the victory of the Bolsheviks in October 1917, this day began to be celebrated annually in Russia. At the global level, it was consolidated in 1921, when the 2nd Communist Women's Conference finally approved March 8 (February 23, old style!!!) in the USSR as International Women's Day. Why did they start from February 23, which can cause all men to be confused? It's simple - it was on February 23, 1917 that thousands of women took to the streets of Petrograd demanding “bread and peace!” So what subsequently happened was a unique coincidence between Defender of the Fatherland Day and International Women’s Day with a difference in calendar styles. However, as smart people say, there are no coincidences. And although March 8 remained a working day for a long time, the Soviet government “celebrated” it in every possible way: it reported to the people about its achievements in the field of women’s rights, and in 1925, for example, discounts on galoshes were announced for women in USSR stores! March 8 became a non-working holiday in the USSR in 1966. This was announced on May 8, 1965, on the eve of the 20th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War. And in 1977, the USSR convinced the UN to declare March 8 International Women's Day. More precisely, the International Day for Women's Rights and International Peace. True, it is no secret that in the Western world - at least at the state level - this holiday has not become a holiday. It should be noted that in the late USSR and modern Russia it ceased to have a political connotation. This is a day of universal male admiration for women. One of my friends from Germany in the mid-90s said to me, watching how bouquets were being bought up on the eve of March 8: “Oh, tomorrow is your Russian Valentine’s Day!” To which I answered him that this is not Valentine’s Day for us, but we are simply reminding ourselves that we can’t live without women, that everything rests on them, that men are strong in attack, and women are strong in constancy. And in general, we always love women, and March 8 is a kind of culmination for us, in which there is no political or any other background. By the way, many foreigners, and especially foreigners from Western Europe and the USA, openly envied our women on March 8th. Journalists wrote about how Femininity Day is celebrated in the USSR, and even in schools boys place bouquets and cards on the desks of their classmates... It is noteworthy that the Soviet Minister of Culture Furtseva even wanted to cancel this day (back in 1961!), considering it offensive to Soviet women. One way or another, the day of femininity remains with us. It remained throughout the entire USSR in one form or another. Today, March 8 is officially celebrated in 31 countries around the world. But not in all countries March 8 is International Women's Day. This day is celebrated in the following countries: Azerbaijan, Angola, Armenia, Afghanistan, Belarus, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Vietnam, Guinea-Bissau, Georgia, Zambia, Israel, Italy, Cambodia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Kiribati, People's Republic of China (but working day), DPRK (North Korea), Congo (“Congolese Women's Day”), Costa Rica, Cuba, Laos, Madagascar (day off for women only), Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Nepal, Poland, Russia, Romania, Serbia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Uzbekistan (“Mother’s Day”), Ukraine, Croatia, Montenegro, Eritrea. It is celebrated in different ways... For example, in seemingly socialist China, on March 8, it is customary to congratulate only elderly and honored party leaders and public figures. The rest of the women on this day continue to build a bright future... And here in Russia - after Europe’s distortions towards same-sex marriage and other “gender equality”, the day of March 8 has also acquired, as men now say, the “correct” meaning. This is the day of love for a woman... On one of these days I ironically wrote: Once upon a time you took us away from paradise, To the ends of the earth, to the very, very edge... Why did you do this - I don’t know, Probably so that by loving and seducing us to return to paradise, at least for a short time... And how can the Earth not spin now, We definitely won’t return there without you!

The celebration of International Women's Day is usually associated with the leader (leader?) of the world communist movement Clara Zetkin, who proposed introducing this day in 1910. This happened at the Second International Women's Conference in Copenhagen.

But few people know that the holiday was originally celebrated on March 19th. And in general, in different countries the date was “floating”; in Russia, for example, in 1913 it was celebrated on March 2. But starting since 1914 March 8 was already celebrated everywhere, because in the year the First World War began, March 8 fell on a Sunday, and the date was fixed.

Some researchers associate this holiday with the Jewish Purim, when they remember Queen Esther, the wife of Xerxes, who prevented Jewish pogroms in Persia. The date of this holiday is also floating - but in 1910 it fell on March 8th. Some at the same time remember both the famous Judith and the day of the Zion (Babylonian) harlots... Others say that in 1848 the king of Prussia (as a result of the workers' uprising on March 8!), among other things, promised women the right to vote. And then they remember another socialist - Elena Grinberg, who proposed a specific date.

But perhaps the closest thing to the truth is another event: on March 8, 1857, women workers in the textile industry and clothing factories of New York, protesting against women’s low wages and poor working conditions, organized a march through the streets of Manhattan. Let me remind you that these women had to work 16 hours a day for pennies! Democracy after all... But after these protests, women were “equalized” in rights with men, and they received a 10-hour working day (like men!!!).

March 8, 1901 The first ever protest march of women housewives took place in Chicago - the so-called “pot riot” or “march of empty pots”. Using these dishes as drums, women sought equal political rights, the opportunity to work in production without restrictions or restrictions, but most interestingly, the right to serve in the army and police. Since then, all leftist parties in the United States began to apply these demands in their programs.

So the date of the holiday and its reasons can be discussed for a long time. But the main fact is that after the victory of the Bolsheviks in October 1917, this day began to be celebrated annually in Russia. At the global level, it was consolidated in 1921, when the 2nd Communist Women's Conference finally approved March 8 (February 23, old style!!!) in the USSR as International Women's Day. Why did they start from February 23, which can cause all men to be confused? It's simple - it was on February 23, 1917 that thousands of women took to the streets of Petrograd demanding “bread and peace!” So what subsequently happened was a unique coincidence between Defender of the Fatherland Day and International Women’s Day with a difference in calendar styles. However, as smart people say, there are no coincidences.

And although March 8 remained a working day for a long time, the Soviet government “celebrated” it in every possible way: it reported to the people about its achievements in the field of women’s rights, and in 1925, for example, discounts on galoshes were announced for women in USSR stores! March 8 became a non-working holiday in the USSR in 1966. This was announced on May 8, 1965, on the eve of the 20th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War. And in 1977, the USSR convinced the UN to declare March 8 International Women's Day. More precisely, the International Day for Women's Rights and International Peace. True, it is no secret that in the Western world - at least at the state level - this holiday has not become a holiday.

It should be noted that in the late USSR and modern Russia it ceased to have a political connotation. This is a day of universal male admiration for women. One of my friends from Germany told me in the mid-90s, watching how bouquets were being bought up on the eve of March 8:

- Oh, tomorrow is your Russian Valentine's Day!

To which I answered him that this is not Valentine’s Day for us, but we are simply reminding ourselves that we can’t live without women, that everything rests on them, that men are strong in attack, and women are strong in constancy. And in general, we always love women, and March 8 is a kind of culmination for us, in which there is no political or any other background.

By the way, many foreigners, and especially foreigners from Western Europe and the USA, openly envied our women on March 8th. Journalists wrote about how Femininity Day is celebrated in the USSR, and even in schools boys place bouquets and cards on the desks of their classmates... It is noteworthy that the Soviet Minister of Culture Furtseva even wanted to cancel this day (back in 1961!), considering it offensive to Soviet women.

One way or another, the day of femininity remains with us. It remained throughout the entire USSR in one form or another. Today, March 8 is officially celebrated in 31 countries around the world. But not in all countries March 8 is International Women's Day. This day is celebrated in the following countries: Azerbaijan, Angola, Armenia, Afghanistan, Belarus, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Vietnam, Guinea-Bissau, Georgia, Zambia, Israel, Italy, Cambodia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Kiribati, People's Republic of China (but working day), DPRK (North Korea), Congo (“Congolese Women's Day”), Costa Rica, Cuba, Laos, Madagascar (day off for women only), Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Nepal, Poland, Russia, Romania, Serbia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Uzbekistan (“Mother’s Day”), Ukraine, Croatia, Montenegro, Eritrea. It is celebrated in different ways... For example, in seemingly socialist China, on March 8, it is customary to congratulate only elderly and honored party leaders and public figures. The rest of the women continue to build a bright future on this day...

And here in Russia - after Europe’s distortions towards same-sex marriage and other “gender equality”, March 8th also acquired, as men now say, the “correct” meaning. This is the day of love for a woman... On one of these days I ironically wrote:

Once upon a time you took us away from paradise,

To the ends of the earth, to the very, very edge...

Why did you do this - I don’t know, probably to love and seduce,

To return us to paradise, at least for a little while...

And how can the Earth not spin now?

We definitely won’t be able to return there without you!

On the eve of the main day of all women on the planet, I want to talk about the history of this holiday and its origin. In fact, there are quite a few versions, but most of them have nothing to do with International Women's Day.

Version 1. Official (false)

According to this version, the establishment of March 8 as a women's holiday is associated with the “March of Empty Pots,” which took place in New York on March 8, 1857. The march was allegedly attended by women workers in the textile industry and they were on strike against low wages and terrible working conditions.

According to the version, after this march the world community listened to the problems of women and created a special holiday for them.

In reality, there was no strike. Moreover, March 8, 1857 is a Sunday. Agree, going on strike against working conditions on a day off is not a good idea.

Undoubtedly, women all over the world really fought against injustice and wanted to achieve good wages and comfortable working conditions, but these strikes have nothing to do with March 8.

Version 2. Representatives of the oldest profession (false)

According to this version, on March 8, 1857, there was still a march, only it was not textile workers who went on strike, but women of easy virtue.

And they allegedly went on strike so that the sailors would be paid their salaries, since they used their services but were unable to pay for them.

This march really took place, but it could not have become the reason for the establishment of the holiday for obvious reasons.

Version 3. Clara Zetkin (partially true)

In 1910, at a women's forum in Copenhagen, German communist Clara Zetkin called for the establishment of International Women's Day on March 8th. Only she wanted to make it not a holiday, but a day when women all over the world could go to rallies and loudly declare their problems.

Why is this version only partially true? Because Women's Day really began to be celebrated on March 8, but for completely different reasons.

Version 4. Political (true)

And now we have reached the latest and present version.

March 8 is a political campaign designed to increase the popularity of politicians of that time. In different countries, the establishment of March 8 as a holiday occurred in different years. As a rule, for those periods when women’s patience was running out and they demanded better working conditions, greater rights and higher wages.

In order to appease the fair sex, the authorities resorted to similar tricks, such as establishing a holiday.

By the way, contrary to the opinion of many, International Women's Day is not celebrated in all countries. In all of Western Europe, except Portugal, such a holiday simply does not exist. It is also not observed in the countries of South and North America and most African countries.

THIS IS INTERESTING: China and Madagascar are the only countries where March 8 is a day off only for women.

Well, in conclusion, on behalf of myself and all men, I want to congratulate my wonderful readers on this holiday. Know, whatever the reason for International Women's Day, we always love and appreciate you. Happy holiday, dear ladies!

Last year, International Women's Day turned exactly 100 years old. At the International Conference of Socialist Women, held in Copenhagen in August 1910, at the suggestion of Clara Zetkin, it was decided to designate a special day of the year dedicated to the struggle of women for their rights. The following year, on March 19, mass demonstrations took place in Germany, Austria, Denmark and Switzerland, in which more than a million people took part. This is how the story of March 8 began, originally the “International Day of Women’s Solidarity in the Struggle for Economic, Social and Political Equality.”

In 1912, mass demonstrations in defense of women's rights took place on May 12, in 1913 - on different days of March. It was only in 1914 that the date of March 8 was finally fixed, most likely for the reason that it was Sunday. In the same year, the day of the struggle for women's rights was celebrated for the first time in then-tsarist Russia. With the outbreak of the First World War, demands for greater civil liberties for women were added to the struggle to end hostilities. The history of the origin of the March 8 holiday was later tied to the events of 03/08/1910, when in New York for the first time there were demonstrations by female workers in clothing and shoe factories demanding higher wages, improved working conditions and a shorter working day.

Having come to power, the Russian Bolsheviks recognized March 8 as an official date. There was no talk about spring, flowers and femininity: the emphasis was placed exclusively on the class struggle and the involvement of women in the idea of ​​socialist construction. Thus began a new round in the history of March 8th - now this holiday has spread throughout the countries of the socialist camp, and in Western Europe it has been safely forgotten. An important milestone in the history of the March 8 holiday was 1965, when it was declared a day off in the USSR.

In 1977, the UN adopted resolution No. 32/142, which gave Women's Day international status. True, in most countries where it is still celebrated (Laos, Nepal, Mongolia, North Korea, China, Uganda, Angola, Guinea-Bissau, Burkina Faso, Congo, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Poland, Italy), this is International Day the struggle for women's rights and international peace, that is, an event of political and social significance.

In the countries of the post-Soviet camp, despite the history of the origin of March 8, there has been no talk of any “struggle” for a long time. Congratulations, flowers and gifts are due to all women - mothers, wives, sisters, girlfriends, employees, toddlers and retired grandmothers. They abandoned it only in Turkmenistan, Latvia and Estonia. In other states there is no such holiday. Perhaps because Mother's Day is held in high esteem there, which in most countries is celebrated on the second Sunday of May (in Russia - on the last Sunday of November).

A very interesting fact from the domestic history of the March 8 holiday. The fact is that the famous February Revolution of 1917, which laid the foundation for the October Revolution, began in Petrograd with a mass rally of women protesting against the war. Events grew like a snowball, and soon a general strike, an armed uprising began, Nicholas II abdicated the throne. What happened next is well known.

The bitterness of the humor is that February 23 according to the old style is March 8 according to the new style. So, another day, March 8th, marked the beginning of the history of the future USSR. But Defender of the Fatherland Day is traditionally dedicated to other events: February 23, 1918, the beginning of the formation of the ranks of the Red Army.

Did you know that a special women's day existed in the Roman Empire? Free-born married Roman women (matrons) dressed in the best clothes, decorated their heads and clothes with flowers and visited the temples of the goddess Vesta. On this day, their husbands presented them with expensive gifts and honors. Even slaves received souvenirs from their masters and were freed from work. It's unlikely that there is There is a direct connection in the history of the origin of the March 8 holiday with the ancient Roman Women's Day, but our modern version is very reminiscent of it in spirit.

Jews have their own holiday - Purim, which, according to the lunar calendar, falls annually on different days in March. This is the day of the warrior woman, the brave and wise Queen Esther, who by cunning saved the Jews from destruction in 480 BC, however, at the cost of the lives of tens of thousands of Persians. Some have tried to directly connect Purim with the history of the origin of the March 8 holiday. But, contrary to speculation, Clara Zetkin was not a Jew (although her husband Osip was a Jew), and it is unlikely that the idea would have occurred to her to link the day of struggle of European feminists to a Jewish religious holiday.