March 8 is a world women's holiday, when men become unusually gallant and give gifts to their beloved ones, mothers, sisters and daughters. Meanwhile, initially, International Women's Day was not at all romantic, but rather a political holiday.
Instructions
Step 1
According to one of the versions, the inhabitants of Ancient Rome were the first to celebrate Women's Day. On March 1, they celebrated the holiday of Matrona, dedicated to the wife of the great Jupiter - the patroness of women, Juno. On this day, the Romans put on their best clothes and went to the temple of Juno Lucius (the Bright). They brought flowers to the goddess and asked her to give them family happiness. The holiday even extended to slaves, on this day the owners allowed them to rest, and all the housework was done by male slaves.
Step 2
The history of the modern holiday on March 8 began in the 19th century and was associated with the struggle of women for their rights. On March 8, 1857, a demonstration of female workers in the garment and footwear industry was organized in New York. They demanded that they be given a 10-hour working day, comfortable working conditions and equal wages with men. The fact is that at that time women were forced to work 16 hours a day, receiving only pittance for their work. Soon, women's trade unions arose, and for the first time women were given the right to vote.
Step 3
Nevertheless, only at the International Women's Conference of Socialists, held in 1910 in Copenhagen, the famous German political and social activist Clara Zetkin made a proposal to celebrate the 8th March World Women's Day. The emergence of the new holiday marked the entry of women from all over the world into the struggle for equality and independence.
Step 4
For the first time, World Women's Day was celebrated in 1911, however, not on March 8, but on March 19, when demonstrations took place on the streets of Austria, Germany, Denmark and Switzerland dedicated to the struggle of workers for their suffrage. In Russia, International Women's Day began to be celebrated in 1913. Only in 1976 the holiday was officially recognized by the UN.
Step 5
Historians believe that the 8 March holiday is associated not only with the name of Clara Zetkin. There is a version that he goes back to the legend of Esther - the wife of the Persian king Artaxerxes. In the 5th century BC. she managed to save her people from destruction. The fact is that Esther was Jewish, but hid her origin from the royal spouse. One day she learned that the minister Aman proposed to the king to exterminate all the Jews living in Babylon. Then Esther decided to use her feminine charms. She took from Artaxerxes a promise to exterminate all enemies of her people. Only later did the tsar realize that it was about the enemies of the Jews, but it was too late to retreat. Grateful Jews dedicated the merry holiday of Purim to their savior, which they began to celebrate on March 4. It is possible that he is one of the forerunners of the women's spring festival.
