The real history of the holiday on March 8 over the decades has managed to acquire more than one legend. Who just did not assign the origins women's day. We will tell the truth about March 8, which everyone should know.

International Women's Day has its roots in the centuries-old struggle of women for the right to participate in public life on an equal basis with men. History knows more than one amazing story about how women tried to choose their rights equal to men.

Even in the days of ancient Greece, Lysistrata, in order to end the war, provoked a sexual protest against men. And Parisians during the events of the French Revolution, who advocated "freedom, equality and fraternity", marched on Versailles to be granted the right to vote.

Today, the holiday of March 8 is perceived quite differently than a hundred years ago, calling it a holiday of spring, beauty and women. But the real history of the holiday on March 8 was not so cloudless and easy.

The history of the holiday on March 8 began in 1908, when more than 15 thousand women took to the streets of New York with calls for equality with men. They demanded to reduce the working day and equalize wages with men. The protesters also demanded suffrage for women. A year later, the US authorities announced last sunday February is National Women's Day, and celebrated until 1913.

In 1910, a delegation of American women came to Copenhagen (Denmark) for the Second International Conference of Socialist Women, which was attended by communist Clara Zetkin. She also called for the establishment of an International Women's Day, on which women will be able to rally and organize marches against poverty, for the right to work, for respect for their dignity and for peace. In European countries, International Women's Day was first celebrated on March 19, 1911.

Namely - in Germany, Austria, Denmark, Switzerland, Holland. It was on this day in 1948 that the King of Prussia, fearing an armed uprising, promised to carry out a series of reforms, including the granting of women's suffrage. However, in 1912 the holiday was already celebrated on May 12. And in 1913 in Germany it was celebrated on March 12, in Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Switzerland, Holland - on March 9, in France - on March 2.

In Tsarist Russia, the history of the March 8 holiday began in 1913, and it was also accompanied by rallies and demonstrations. So, on March 8, 1917, according to the new style (February 23, according to the old style), a strike of textile workers took place, after which a procession with slogans about equal rights for women followed. This, in fact, was one of the waves of protests that led to the February Revolution. The holiday of March 8 coincided with a turning point in the history of Russia, and therefore became stronger in the USSR.

Somewhere before the 70s, the history of the March 8 holiday was mainly associated with revolutionaries and their struggle for women's independence. Based on the history of the March 8 holiday in different parts of the world, it becomes clear that it arose as an instrument of emancipation and respect for women.

AT Soviet times March 8 holiday was declared a non-working day in 1965 "in commemoration of the outstanding merits of Soviet women in communist construction, in defending the Motherland during the Great Patriotic War, their heroism and selflessness at the front and in the rear, as well as noting the great contribution of women to strengthening friendship between peoples and the struggle for peace. 1975 was declared by the United Nations international year women. Since then, March 8 has become officially International Women's Day.

Since the 80s, the holiday of March 8 has been increasingly depoliticized, and by the 90s the pathos of past revolutions has completely disappeared. It began to be perceived as "Women's Day".

Versions of who invented Women's Day

In addition, disputes do not subside who invented March 8 in fact. There is more than one amazing version.

One of the versions, who came up with March 8, is the most scandalous, and tells about the protest of prostitutes in 1857 in New York (who over time, historians have replaced with "textile workers"). They demanded the payment of wages to sailors who could not pay for their services. And on March 8, 1894, already in Paris, women ancient profession rally again. They demanded equal rights with seamstresses and bakers, and also established special trade unions. Such demonstrations took place in Chicago in 1895, and in 1896 in New York.

By the way, Clara Zetkin herself also organized similar actions. In the same 1910, with Rosa Luxemburg, they brought prostitutes to the streets of Germany, demanding to stop the atrocities of the police (in the Soviet version they were called "working women").

Also curious is the version of who invented March 8 and made a choice on the G8. After all, the holiday of March 8 was celebrated on March 8 in 1914. It is believed that the number "eight" was chosen jointly by Clara Zetkin and Rosa Luxembourg, because the figure is very reminiscent of the outlines of the female body.

Another version of the choice of the "eight" refers us to the events of the strike of textile workers in Russia in 1917, which took place on February 23 according to the old style, that is, on March 8 - according to the new one.

How the tradition of giving flowers, sweets and gifts on International Women's Day arose, the history of the holiday on March 8 is silent. They only tend to believe that the idea, apparently, arose when the revolutionary context began to disappear from Women's Day.

In Germany and France, the holiday was either celebrated or forgotten at different periods of history. It is customary to celebrate Mother's Day there, as well as to congratulate girls on Valentine's Day.

In Bulgaria, for example, women themselves are ambivalent about International Women's Day, often even forgetting about its celebration.

Italian and Lithuanian March 8 does not have the status of a public holiday, but every year on this day women get together and spend it noisily and cheerfully.

But our neighbors, Poles and Belarusians, do not neglect once again to congratulate their mothers, grandmothers, sisters on the holiday of March 8. But unlike Belarus, this day is a working day for the Poles.

Cubans hold loud feasts in honor of International Women's Day, during which they express their love and respect for women.

March 8 is also a national holiday in countries such as China, North Korea, Angola, Burkina Faso, Guinea-Bissau, Cambodia, Laos, Mongolia and Uganda. Georgia celebrates both March 8 as International Women's Day and Mother's Day on March 3.

Along with Ukraine, March 8 is celebrated in Azerbaijan, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Moldova, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Abkhazia and Russia. In 2018, Ukraine planned to cancel the March 8 holiday and make it a working day. But fortunately, the initiative did not pass.

Why is International Women's Day celebrated on March 8th? It turns out that there are no special reasons for this.

It all started in the early spring of 1857... when New York textile workers marched through Manhattan. They demanded higher wages, improved working conditions and equal rights for women. The demonstration was naturally dispersed, but due to its unusual nature, it made a fair amount of noise. This event is even called women's day…

More than 50 years have passed and on the last Sunday of February already in 1908, thousands of women again took to the streets of New York. This demonstration, as you might guess, was timed to coincide with the same "Women's Day" in 1857. Women again began to demand the electoral vote, opposed the terrible working conditions, and especially against the labor of children. The police were ordered to disperse the demonstration. Hoses with dirty ice water were launched.

The following year, 1909, Women's Day was again marked by marches and women's strikes. In 1910, socialists and feminists held Women's Day all over the country. Later that year, delegates traveled from the United States to Copenhagen on Second International Conference of Women Socialists, where they met with Clara Zetkin ...

Inspired by the actions of the "American Socialist Sisters," Clara Zetkin proposed that the conference raise the issue of women around the world choosing a specific day when they would draw public attention to their demands. The conference, which was attended by over 100 women from 17 countries, strongly supported this proposal by roll call, which resulted in the emergence International Day of Women's Solidarity in the Struggle for Economic, Social and Political Equality. It should be noted that the exact date of this day at this conference has not been determined.

For the first time, International Women's Day was held March 19, 1911 in Germany, Austria, Denmark and some other European countries. This date was chosen by the women of Germany because on that day in 1848 the King of Prussia, before the threat of an armed uprising, made a promise to introduce reforms, including the unfulfilled introduction of women's suffrage.

In 1912, women celebrated this day not on March 19, but 12 May. And only since 1914 this day began to be celebrated spontaneously for some reason March 8.

Since Russia then lived, unlike all of Europe, according to the Julian calendar, International Women's Day in our country was celebrated not on March 8, but February 23.

In Russia, women celebrate this day every year since 1913. And now, February 23, 1917, years in Russia, this day has come again, the women of Petrograd took to the streets of the city protesting against the war. Some spontaneous rallies turned into mass strikes and demonstrations, clashes with the Cossacks and the police. On February 24-25, mass strikes turned into a general strike. On February 26, separate skirmishes with the police turned into battles with troops called to the capital. On February 27, the general strike turned into an armed uprising, a mass transfer of troops began to the side of the rebels, who occupied the most important points of the city, government buildings. The Council of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies was created, and the Provisional Committee of the State Duma was created at the same time, which formed the government. On March 2 (15) Nicholas II abdicated the throne. On March 1, a new government was established in Moscow, during March - throughout the country.

Thus, it was International Women's Day 1917 that was the trigger that led to February Revolution, which in turn led to the October Revolution and the emergence of the USSR ...

In the USSR, March 8 was for a long time an ordinary working day, but May 8, 1965, on the eve of the 20th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War, International Women's Day March 8 was declared a public holiday in the USSR.

By the way, since 2002, International Women's Day has been celebrated in Russia as a "non-working holiday" no longer according to the Decree of 1965, but according to Article 112 of the Labor Code of the Russian Federation in the list of other nine public holidays of the Russian Federation.

P.S. Many doubt that this holiday is really "international". However, back in 1977, the UN adopted resolution 32/142, calling on all countries to proclaim March 8 as a day of struggle for women's rights - International Women's Day. This day is declared a national holiday in the republics former USSR, as well as in: Angola, Burkina Faso, Guinea-Bissau, Cambodia, China, Congo (there is a holiday not of “international”, but Congolese women), Laos, Macedonia, Mongolia, Nepal, North Korea and Uganda. In Syria, March 8 is celebrated as the Day of the Revolution, and in Liberia - and at all as the Day of Remembrance of the Fallen.

Today, many countries around the world celebrate International Women's Day - March 8th. In Ukraine, this holiday is quite popular and so far remains a day off, despite occasional proposals to cancel it. reminiscent of the history and original meaning of the holiday.

Over time, the original meaning of March 8 as a day of women's solidarity in the struggle for equality has slightly leveled and emancipation. This day is often perceived as a celebration of “flowers and sweets”.

International Women's Day owes its appearance to the "Empty Pot March", which took place on March 8, 1857 in New York. Textile factory workers then took to the street protests, demanding a ten-hour working day (it was sixteen hours), a decent salary and the right to vote in elections. During the action they beat the aforementioned pots. Later, the participants in the movement were called suffragettes (from suffrage - voting, suffrage).

Subsequently, the suffragette movement swept not only the United States, but also Europe. Women went to rallies, facing detentions and arrests. For example, when the Women's Suffrage Bill was rejected in Great Britain in May 1905, pogroms began in London: suffragettes broke the windows of restaurants and ministers' houses with stones. In response, the police made arrests.

The detention of suffragettes in Britain. Photo: 24tv.ua

On February 28, 1908, at the call of the New York Social Democratic Women's Organization, a rally was held with slogans about the equality of women. On this day, more than 15,000 women marched through the city, demanding a shorter working day and equal pay conditions with men. In addition, a demand was put forward for granting women the right to vote.

In 1909, the Socialist Party of America declared a National Women's Day, which was celebrated until 1913 on the last Sunday in February.

In 1910, the famous German communist Clara Zetkin at the forum of women socialists in Copenhagen (where delegates from the United States also arrived) proposed the establishment of International Women's Day. It was assumed that on this day women would organize rallies and processions, attracting the public to their problems.

Clara Zetkin. Photo: 24tv.ua

The first International Women's Day on March 19, 1911, at the suggestion of Elena Grinberg, a member of the Social Democratic Party of Germany, was celebrated in Germany, Austria, Denmark and Switzerland. The following year, in the same countries, the date was moved to May 12. During numerous rallies in France, Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary and other countries, the date changed.

Only in 1914, March 8 as International Women's Day was celebrated simultaneously in eight countries: the USA, Great Britain, Austria, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Russia and Switzerland.

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY AND THE UN

In 1975, she established March 8 as International Women's Day and the United Nations (UN).

In 1977, the UN General Assembly (resolution No. A / RES / 32/142) invited states to declare, in accordance with their traditions and customs, any day of this year as the Day of Struggle for Women's Rights and International Peace. This decision was taken in connection with both the International Year of Women and the International Decade for Women (1976-1985).

Every year, the UN proposes a theme for March 8. This year's celebration celebrates innovations led by women, as well as inventions and technologies that have changed women's lives for the better.

The theme for 2019 is “Think Equal, Build Smart, Innovate for Change.” The main message is about innovative ways in which to promote gender equality, empower women, especially in the areas of social protection, access to public services and sustainable infrastructure development. “Achieving gender equality requires social innovation that works for both women and men and leaves no one behind. From urban planning that focuses on community safety, to e-learning platforms, affordable and quality childcare centers and technology developed by women, innovation could bring the race for gender equality to the finish line by 2030.

And UN Secretary-General António Guterres, on the eve of International Women's Day, recalled that global progress is impossible without gender equality. “Gender equality is a matter of power. We live in a male-dominated world with a male-dominated culture. Only when we see women's rights as our common goal, a path of change that benefits all, will we begin to shift the balance. Increasing the number of women decision makers is of fundamental importance,” he stressed.

For the abolition of March 8 as a day off in Ukraine actively speaks Director of the Ukrainian Institute of National Memory Volodymyr Viatrovych. According to him, this holiday has nothing to do with the meaning that was originally laid in it.

“The holiday status granted on March 8 was one of the tools of the Soviet government to turn the day of struggle for women's rights into a day in the format of “bouquets-cakes-champagne ... Although March 8 is International Women's Day in most European countries, it is not a day off . This is a day off only in Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, North Korea, Vietnam, Angola ... These are hardly the countries that can be called an example of respect for women's rights, ”- noted earlier Vyatrovich.

At the same time, he does not yet call for canceling March 8 as a holiday: only to make it a working day.

Last November, the head of the Ukrainian Institute of National Memory expressed an opinion that the majority of Ukrainians are ready to abandon the tradition of celebrating March 8.

“I’m not saying that March 8 will disappear from the calendar altogether, but I think that its idea and concept will change - we will not talk about International Women’s Day, but about the day of struggle for women’s rights, which is important for Ukrainian society,” Viatrovych said. , emphasizing that in the new format, a day off will be completely redundant, which turns this holiday into a “day of cakes and bouquets”.

Meanwhile, the first persons of the state congratulated Ukrainian women on the holiday.

“Ukraine was, is and will be invincible with you. Let's take care of our shores!” wrote President Petro Poroshenko in

Version one, official: Working Women's Solidarity Day

Although this version of the creation of the holiday on March 8 in the times of the USSR was recognized as official, it has several "mistakes".

So, according to the official version, the holiday is associated with the "march of empty pans", which took place on March 8, 1857 in New York. Then the women who worked in the textile industry protested against poor working conditions and low wages. During the march, they beat pots, demanding that they be granted a 10-hour working day instead of a 16-hour one, equal wages with men, and suffrage.

The same version also speaks of the famous German communist Clara Zetkin. It is she who is often called the woman who founded the holiday on March 8. In 1910, at a women's forum in Copenhagen, Zetkin called on the world to establish International Women's Day on March 8th. She meant that on this day women would organize rallies and demonstrations, and thereby draw public attention to their problems.

Zetkin was an avid communist, which means she was ready for anything for her own convictions. In 1920, during the war between Poland and Soviet Russia, Zetkin stated the following from the rostrum of the Reichstag:

Not a single wagon with weapons for the Polish troops, with machine tools for military factories built in Poland by the capitalists of the Entente, should cross the German border.

To this end, Zetkin called for the mobilization of all "conscious proletarian women" who should offer their love to any "conscious" worker who refuses to participate in the execution of military orders.

Clara Zetkin

In the then Russian empire this holiday came through Zetkin's friend, the fiery revolutionary Alexandra Kollontai. The one that conquered Soviet Union phrase: "To surrender to the first man you meet should be as easy as drinking a glass of water."

On March 8, 1917, a women's demonstration took place in Petrograd. While two million soldiers died during the war, women came out demanding "bread and peace." This historic Sunday falls on February 23 according to the Julian calendar, or March 8 according to the Gregorian - the beginning of the Russian revolution.

Four days later, the tsar abdicated and the provisional government granted women the right to vote. March 8 became official holiday in the USSR in 1921.

Version two: protests of prostitutes

This version of the origin of the holiday is perhaps the most scandalous and unpleasant for all the fair sex, who are anxiously awaiting International Women's Day.

Detention of suffragettes in Britain

In 1857, in New York, women did protest, but they were not textile workers, but prostitutes. They demanded to pay salaries to the sailors, because they used their services and did not have money to pay for the services.

Even later, on March 8, 1894, another demonstration of prostitutes took place in Paris. This time they demanded recognition of their rights on an equal footing with those workers in the service sector who sew clothes or bake bread, and establish special trade unions.

Similar actions took place in 1895 in Chicago, and in 1896 in New York. These protests became the prerequisite for the memorable congress of suffragettes (from the English word suffrage - "suffrage") in 1910, where it was decided to declare March 8 as Women's Day and international, as Zetkin suggested.

By the way, Clara Zetkin herself also took part in such actions. In 1910, together with her friend Rosa Luxembourg, she brought prostitutes to the streets of German cities demanding an end to police excesses. But in the Soviet version, "prostitutes" were replaced by "working women."

Version three: honoring the Jewish queen

There is a version that Zetkin was born in the family of a Jewish shoemaker, and therefore she connected March 8 with the Jewish holiday of Purim.

According to legend, the favorite of the Persian king Xerxes, Esther, saved the Jewish people from extermination, using her charms. Xerxes wanted to exterminate all Jews, but Esther convinced him not only not to kill Jews, but, on the contrary, to destroy all Jewish enemies, including the Persians themselves. It happened on the 13th day of Arda according to the Jewish calendar (this month falls at the end of February - the beginning of March). Honoring Esther, the Jews began to celebrate Purim. The date of the celebration was "floating", but in 1910 it fell on March 8th.

This version looks incredible. However, it exists.

Detention of suffragettes in Germany

Other versions

Some are convinced that March 8 is Mrs. Zetkin's birthday. Others, either jokingly or seriously, claim that on this day Clara Zetkin (Eisner) became a woman, and then decided to inscribe this intimate date in world history, veiling it under the day " international solidarity female proletariat.

The version about Zetkin's birthday can be easily refuted, because, according to historical documents, she was born on July 5th. But the other - about the loss of virginity - remains only a strange assumption. The very same holiday on March 8, over the years, more and more acquires similar and unlikely legends.

It is impossible to ignore the fact that March 8 is a manifestation of memory for the women's movement. It doesn't really matter which professions took to the streets to protest. After decades, only the fact itself is of interest.

And if it were still about communism, then March 8 would not have become a public holiday in Azerbaijan, Angola, Belarus, Burkina Faso, Vietnam, Georgia, North Korea, Kazakhstan, Cambodia, Kyrgyzstan, China, the Republic of the Congo, Laos, Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Nepal, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Russia, Uganda.

Whatever the true story of this day, March 8 has long been a symbol of beauty, tenderness, femininity and spring. Although it is not in vain that they say that women deserve attention, care and romance every day, and not just once a year.