International Women's Day in diffrent countries

The Women's Day is officially celebrated in many countries. In most countries, it’s celebration is that women get greetings, flowers and small gifts and at work or at the university are treated on a concessionary day. However, in some countries this day is really special.

In Russia the Women's Day is free from work and instead of flowers, women receive twigs of silver acacia. The Women's Day became a national holiday there after Lenin, but by 1856, on March 8, it was an ordinary working day.

In Israel until recently, no one celebrated the Women's Day and hardly anyone knew about this celebration. This changed due to the wave of immigrants coming from the country of the former USSR after its collapse. Now most women receive flowers and gifts from men and plenty of beauty salons offer beauty treatments for free on that day.

In Italy the Women's Day celebrations start a week earlier. Roadside poles, boards and bus stops are covered with posters reminiscent of the upcoming festival, and many people also give out leaflets about the Women's Day. In the festival itself, all women are required to get flowers and wishes. Shopping madness prevails, because not only men buy gifts to ladies, but also women to each other.

In Portugal and Romania womens like to celebrate their day in a women's group. Yes, they accept gifts from men and thank them for their wishes but they prefer to spend the evening with their friends. They organize women's evenings in homes or pubs.

In Great Britain, there is no emphasis on gifts and flowers but on Women's Day there are numerous lectures and exhibitions about outstanding women, about how gender equality came about and what is still to be done in this area. There the Women's Day is celebrated on the tenth of March.

So all women I wish you all sunny days, smile and a lot of happiness in life.

/Justyna