08MAR2019 - Holiday Today - Worldwide - International Women’s Day

Holiday Worldwide - International Women’s Day
International Women’s Day, celebrated on March 8 every year, is a public holiday in a number of countries as well as a United Nations observance. Originally created to celebrate women’s rights and suffrage, it has transformed into a commercialized celebration of womanhood and feminine beauty in some places.
The first celebration of Women’s Day dates back to 1909. On February 28, 1909, the Socialist Party of America organized the observance of National Woman’s Day in New York City. Conceived by labor activist, suffragist and educator Theresa Malkiel, it is considered the precursor to International Women’s Day.
The initiative of the American socialists inspired German socialist Luise Zietz to propose the establishment of an annual Women’s Day at the Second International Socialist Women’s Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark. Her proposal was seconded by Clara Zetkin and Käte Duncker, German activists and women’s rights advocates. The holiday was first celebrated on March 19, 1911 in Germany, Denmark, Austria, and Switzerland. The day was marked by women’s demonstrations for the right to vote and to hold public office as well as against employment discrimination.
In 1913, Russian women joined the celebration of International Women’s Day. The next day, the celebration was held on March 8 for the first time, possibly because it was a Sunday. Since then, International Women’s Day has always been held on March 8 in all countries where it is observed.