International Womens’ Day
In some Western countries there is a day in Spring which is designated as “Mother’s Day” … in the US it is celebrated on the second Sunday in May, as suggested by Anna Jarvis of Philadelphia in 1908 … and this is, perhaps, one reason why International Women’s Day is not marked in the same was as in “socialist”, (or “former socialist”), communities. In fact, sometimes, when local people ask “western” visitors if the holiday is marked in their countries and they receive a negative reply – and a comment about “Mother’s Day” – they respond with a wry smile and a sarcastic comment about it supposedly being an “INTERNATIONAL” holiday.
Another possible reason might well be the “socialist” origins of the day. In fact, International Women’s Day is marked by women’s groups all around the world. It is officially recognized by the United Nations, and in many countries, (including the Kyrgyz Republic), it is designated as an official public holiday. Even in countries where it is not an official holiday, there is a growing awareness of it.
Indeed, some countries celebrate “International Women’s Week”, and in the USA there is an International Women’s Month.
The origins of International Women’s Day (currently marked on March 8th each year) are somewhat obscure. There are some suggestions that it arose out of strikes by female textile workers in New York in either 1857 or 1908. Although there were such incidents, it is now generally agreed that it arose out of a number of “socialist” conferences at the start of the twentieth century, and some sources cite 1908 as the first year it was marked, others – 1911.
According to the official United Nations website these are the significant milestones in the evolution of the holiday:
1909 – Following a declaration by the Socialist Party of America at a conference (held in New York on March 8th, 1908), the first National Woman’s Day was observed across the US on 28th February, 1909.
1910 – At the Socialist International meeting in Copenhagen, it was decided to establish a Women’s Day, which was to be international in character – to commemorate the struggle for women’s rights and assist in achieving universal suffrage. The proposal was greeted with unanimous approval by the delegates – which included the first three women to be elected to the Finnish parliament. However, no fixed date was agreed.
1911 – As a result of the Copenhagen decision, the first International Women’s Day was marked – on March 19th – in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland. More than a million women and men attended rallies. In addition to the right to vote, and hold elected office, there were also demands for the right to work, to vocational training and an end to discrimination in the workplace. Less than one week later (March 25th) there was a tragic fire in New York in which 140 died (mostly Italian and Jewish immigrants), and this event played a major role in the revision of US labour laws.
1913 – Russian women observed their first International Women’s Day on the last Sunday in February.
1914 – Elsewhere in Europe, women held rallies (on or around 8th March) to protest against the impending War or to express solidarity with their sisters.
1917 – With two million Russian soldiers dead in the war, Russian women once again chose the last Sunday in February to strike for “Bread, Peace and Land”. Political leaders opposed the timing of the strike – but the women ignored them, and went ahead anyway. Four days later the Tsar was forced to abdicate and the Provisional Government granted women the right to vote. The historical Sunday fell on 23rd February – according to the Julian Calendar (which was still in use in Russia at that time), but on March 8th according to the Gregorian calendar in use elsewhere.
1921 – the women in the Bulgarian delegation to the Internal Women’s Secretariat of the Communist International proposed that March 8th be adopted as the “official”, global, International Women’s Day and celebrated throughout the world.
To mark the holiday, it is usual to give female acquaintances flowers or small gifts. When addressing women – even strangers (for example, shop assistants – or when asking for directions in the street), it is customary to “congratulate” them on the holiday by starting the exchange with the phrase “S’Prazdnikom”, (or “S’Praszdnikom Vas”). At mealtimes it is usual for a toast to be drunk “to the ladies”, with a speech praising their beauty, wisdom and hard work – and wishing them health, happiness and long lives.
Bishkek