International Women’s Day, originally called International Working Women’s Day, is celebrated annually on March 8 and is a global day recognizing the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women.

According to un.org, “International Women’s Day is celebrated in many countries around the world. It is a day when women are recognized for their achievements without regard to divisions, whether national, ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic or political. International Women’s Day first emerged from the activities of labour movements at the turn of the twentieth century in North America and across Europe.”

The exact dates of the start of National Women’s Day is unknown but its roots can be traced to 1908, when 15,000 women marched through New York City demanding voting rights, better pay and shorter working hours. A year later, the first National Woman’s Day was observed in the U.S. on February 28 in accordance with a declaration by the Socialist Party of America.

“In the traditional Russian culture, International Women’s Day is such a big deal because it celebrates the hard working woman and everything a man can not do and what woman have to do, like giving birth,”  Russian sophomore Emanuil Sklianin said.

In 1917, against the backdrop of the war, women in Russia chose to protest and strike for “Bread and Peace” on the last Sunday in February -which fell on 8 March on the Gregorian calendar. Four days later, the Czar abdicated and the provisional Government granted women the right to vote. Due to their successful protest, during International Women’s Year, the United Nations began celebrating International Women’s Day on 8 March, according to un.org.

“Since International Women’s Day is so close to spring, in Russia men give women flowers and a little gift to show their perspective on this holiday,” Sklianin said.

According to masterrussian.com “this beautiful spring holiday is most often celebrated in the family circle with a festive meal and champagne. Another popular choice to celebrate March 8 is by visiting friends. Men and women give flowers, postcards with poetry, chocolate, and other pleasant gifts to their mothers, wives, grandmothers, sisters and daughters. Some Russian men like to undertake all household duties on this day—starting with washing dishes and ending with cooking dinner and looking after children, so that women can enjoy a full day of rest.

Although International Women’s Day is profusely celebrated in Russia, it is also a day of recognition in the United States.

“I think that International Women’s Day is a day that is celebrated to appreciate women and how hard they work and to appreciate them because of the unequalness between men and women. We celebrate it because we think that women should be celebrated with all the hard work they put into getting a job and to have the right to vote,” sophomore Abigail Shimelis said.