Women's Day In Bulgaria

March 8th is a big celebration in Bulgaria, mothers, grandmothers, teachers, single ladies.

The History of International Women's Day

International Women's Day (IWD), originally called International Working Women's Day, is marked on March 8 every year.In different regions the focus of the celebrations ranges from general celebration of respect, appreciation and love towards women to a celebration for women's economic, political, and social achievements. Started as a Socialist political event, the holiday blended in the culture of many countries, primarily Eastern Europe, Russia, and the former Soviet bloc. In some regions, the day lost its political flavor, and became simply an occasion for men to express their love for women in a way somewhat similar to a mixture of Mother's Day and Valentine's Day. In other regions, however, the political and human rights theme designated by the United Nations runs strong, and political and social awareness of the struggles of women worldwide are brought out and examined in a hopeful manner. This is a day which some people celebrate by wearing purple ribbons.

The earliest Women’s Day observances were held on many different dates: May 3, 1908, in Chicago;
February 28th, 1909, in New York;
and February 27, 1910, in New york.

The Celebration in Bulgaria

In Bulgaria Women's Day was first celebrated on March 8th by small groups of socialists in 1911 and in 1915 it was celebrated publicly for the first time. It became officially recognized as a holiday after 1944 when the Communists seized control. Originally during Communism some factories and businesses celebrated the role of women in Bulgarian cultural, scientific, production and social life. After 1960 it became a much more festive event. Women's Day is respected by all including men who are obliged to give flowers to every woman in their life and this doesn't just mean mothers, wives and daughters but business colleagues and friends. Indeed, this day is the one day of the year where the streets of every town, city and village are full with flower vendors who for this day charge higher prices.

The UN theme for International Women's Day 2014 is "
Equality for Women is Progress for All"

Only a few days away now so I thought I would Bump this.

bigsavak wrote:

Only a few days away now so I thought I would Bump this.

Nice one BGS:

We are off to the village 'do' in the hall on Saturday. Seems Dave had better find some flowers, it's surprising how many women he knows, as well as his favourite pensioners Venka and Baba Danka.