| March 8th is International Women's Day, a day | | | | International Women's Day Today |
| celebrating the political, economic, and social | | | | International Women's Day is an official holiday in |
| achievements of women and a time when men | | | | Russia and has been so since 1965. Banks, official |
| throughout the world will honor the special women in | | | | businesses, and educational institutions all close and |
| their lives. Though the holiday is global, few people | | | | nearly everyone has the day off work. It is a day |
| place as much importance on International Women's | | | | when friends, family, and coworkers celebrate |
| Day as the citizens of Russia. | | | | together. |
| The History of International Women's Day in Russia | | | | Though International Women's Day started as a |
| In 1913, the women of Russia observed International | | | | feminist holiday it is now more of a cross between |
| Women's Day for the first time. Female activists | | | | St. Valentine's Day and Mother's Day. Men honor |
| joined together to protest World War I and by 1914 | | | | women for their beauty, femininity, and mothering |
| women from other European countries added their | | | | skills and present gifts of flowers, chocolate, |
| voices to the protests in an expression of women's | | | | perfume, makeup, etc. Breakfast in bed and a day's |
| solidarity. | | | | respite from household chores are also treats women |
| These initial protests were only the beginning. On | | | | enjoy on this special day. Unlike Mother's Day or |
| March 8, 1917, Russian women began striking "for | | | | Valentine's Day, however, men honor all women on |
| bread and peace" in response to the deaths of over | | | | International Women's Day. Every woman receives |
| 2 million Russian soldiers in World War I. Their voices | | | | something special. |
| helped pave the way for the Czar's abdication and | | | | Although the holiday has gone from a celebration of |
| the leaders that followed agreed to grant Russian | | | | women's achievements to a celebration of women in |
| women the right to vote. Russian feminist Alexandra | | | | general, International Women's Day is still a significant |
| Kollontai came to power in the following years and in | | | | holiday in Russia and its importance will continue for |
| addition to championing women's rights and serving | | | | decades to come. On Monday, March 8th, Russian |
| as the world's first female ambassador, she also | | | | men and women and millions of other people around |
| persuaded Lenin to declare International Women's a | | | | the world will mark this momentous day. |
| Day a public holiday in the Soviet Union. | | | | |
