How awesome is it that there is a day dedicated to celebrating women! It is a perk if you were born the fairer sex, ESPECIALLY if you live/work in a country that recognizes it as a national holiday!
This year, International Women's Day, falls on a Sunday so the day off is moved to Monday hence I get a 3-day weekend to begin my celebration of all things womanly. Ok, the holiday is a bonus, there is an importance to International Women's Day. Here's some information on this UN approved day, courtesy of internationalwomensday.com:
"International Women's Day (IWD) is marked on March 8 every year. It is a major day of global celebration for the economic, political and social achievements of women.
Started as a political event, the holiday blended in the culture of many countries (primarily Russia and the countries of former Soviet bloc). In some celebrations, the day lost its political flavour, and became simply an occasion for men to express their love to the women around them in a way somewhat similar to Mother's Day and St Valentine's Day mixed together. In others, however, the political and human rights theme as 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.
The IWD is also celebrated as the first spring holiday, as in the listed countries the first day of March is considered the first day of the spring season. Although March 8 is designated as the official date for International Women's Day, hundreds of events occur not just on this day but throughout March."
The site also explains that every year, a global theme is chosen.
"Organisations, governments and women's groups around the world choose different themes each year that reflect global and local gender issues.
Some years have seen global IWD themes honoured around the world, while in other years groups have preferred to 'localise' their own themes to make them more specific and relevant."
For the year 2009, the global theme is "Women and men united to end violence against women and girls". This is an ongoing common issue suffered by women all over the world and considering that there has been a high-profile case of domestic abuse that has taken the world news by storm, it does not discriminate.
On a lighter note, in some countries, this day is observed by men giving the women in their lives - mothers, wives, girlfriends, daughters, colleagues, etc., flowers and small gifts, as mentioned above. I love the fact that for this holiday I don't have to be in a relationship nor a mother to receive gifts from men. And the fact that this holiday does not have any religious connatations is a boon, one thing that makes me uncomfortable wth V-Day. Yesterday, as I was meeting up with my team for a day out, I received a sundae treat from my colleagues as an early International Women's Day gift. Thanks guys! They are sweet like that. What can I say, I like me a celebration like that :)
This year, International Women's Day, falls on a Sunday so the day off is moved to Monday hence I get a 3-day weekend to begin my celebration of all things womanly. Ok, the holiday is a bonus, there is an importance to International Women's Day. Here's some information on this UN approved day, courtesy of internationalwomensday.com:
"International Women's Day (IWD) is marked on March 8 every year. It is a major day of global celebration for the economic, political and social achievements of women.
Started as a political event, the holiday blended in the culture of many countries (primarily Russia and the countries of former Soviet bloc). In some celebrations, the day lost its political flavour, and became simply an occasion for men to express their love to the women around them in a way somewhat similar to Mother's Day and St Valentine's Day mixed together. In others, however, the political and human rights theme as 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.
The IWD is also celebrated as the first spring holiday, as in the listed countries the first day of March is considered the first day of the spring season. Although March 8 is designated as the official date for International Women's Day, hundreds of events occur not just on this day but throughout March."
The site also explains that every year, a global theme is chosen.
"Organisations, governments and women's groups around the world choose different themes each year that reflect global and local gender issues.
Some years have seen global IWD themes honoured around the world, while in other years groups have preferred to 'localise' their own themes to make them more specific and relevant."
For the year 2009, the global theme is "Women and men united to end violence against women and girls". This is an ongoing common issue suffered by women all over the world and considering that there has been a high-profile case of domestic abuse that has taken the world news by storm, it does not discriminate.
On a lighter note, in some countries, this day is observed by men giving the women in their lives - mothers, wives, girlfriends, daughters, colleagues, etc., flowers and small gifts, as mentioned above. I love the fact that for this holiday I don't have to be in a relationship nor a mother to receive gifts from men. And the fact that this holiday does not have any religious connatations is a boon, one thing that makes me uncomfortable wth V-Day. Yesterday, as I was meeting up with my team for a day out, I received a sundae treat from my colleagues as an early International Women's Day gift. Thanks guys! They are sweet like that. What can I say, I like me a celebration like that :)
