We all know that today this day is celebrated as International Women's Day. But here's the problem, if you ask someone where this holiday came from, most likely he will shrug his shoulders and spread his shoulders without giving an answer. And so the vast majority of people will. For many, you just need to note something … An extra reason to kiss a glass or even just get a gift on this day.
But still, let's try to understand the history of this holiday.
The official version of the SRCP says that the tradition of celebrating March 8 is associated with the "March of empty pots", which was held on this day in 1857 by New York textile workers. They protested against unacceptable working conditions and low wages. It is interesting that in the press of that time there was not a single note about such a strike. And historians have found that March 8, 1857 was Sunday. It was very strange for that time to organize strikes on the day off.
In 1910, at a women's forum in Copenhagen, German communist Clara Zetkin called on the world to institute International Women's Day on 8 March. She meant that on this day women will organize rallies and processions, and thus draw public attention to their problems. Initially, the holiday was called the International Day of Solidarity of Women in the Fight for Their Rights. The date of March 8 was set for the very strike of textile workers, which in fact never took place. More precisely, it was, but then it was not the textile workers who were on strike. But more on that later.
In the SRSR, this holiday was brought by Zetkin's friend, the ardent revolutionary Alexandra Kolontai. The same one that conquered the Soviet Union with a "great phrase": "You must surrender yourself to the first man you meet as easily as drinking a glass of water." March 8 became an official holiday in the USSR in 1921.
Clara Zetkin wanted to connect the history of Women's Day with the history of the Israeli people. According to legend, the beloved of the Persian king Xerxes, Esther, saved the Jewish people from extermination, using her spell. Xerxes wanted to exterminate all Jews, but Esther convinced him not only not to kill the Jews, but, on the contrary, to destroy all Jewish enemies, including the Persians themselves. It happened on day 13 of Arda according to the Jewish calendar (this month falls on the end of February - beginning of March). Praising Esther, the Jews began to celebrate Purim. The date of the celebration was sliding, but in 1910 it fell exactly on March 8th.
And now attention, historical fact … In 1857 in New York, women really protested, but they were not textile workers, but prostitutes. Women of the most ancient profession demanded to pay salaries to sailors who used their services, but did not have money to pay.
In 1894, on March 8, prostitutes again demonstrated in Paris. This time they demanded that their rights be recognized on an equal basis with those who sew clothes or bake bread, and that special trade unions be established. This was repeated in 1895 in Chicago, and in 1896 in New York - shortly before the memorable congress of suffragettes in 1910, where it was decided to declare this day a women's and international one, as Zetkin suggested.
Promotional video:
By the way, Klara herself carried out similar actions. All in the same year 1910, together with her friend Rosa Luxemburg, she brought prostitutes to the streets of German cities with a demand to stop the police outrages. Only in the Soviet version, prostitutes were replaced by "working women."
By all appearances, March 8 is the usual political campaign of the Social Democrats. In the early 20th century, women protested across Europe. And in order to attract attention, they didn't even need to show their breasts. It is enough just to walk along the streets with posters on which socialist slogans are written - and public attention is ensured. And the leaders of the Social Democratic Party have a tick, they say, progressive women are in solidarity with us. Stalin also decided to add to his popularity and ordered to recognize March 8 as International Women's Day. But since it was difficult to tie it to historical events, the history had to be slightly corrected. And nobody really began to understand. Once the leader said, then it was so.
I am sure that even after learning this information, many will not stop celebrating this "holiday". For some, this is a matter of habit. They celebrated this holiday all their lives. Why? Because that's what they were told at school. It is very difficult to give up herd instinct and learn to have an opinion. Not the opinion that was formed from childhood and which is imposed by the media, but really his own. In fact, only representatives of the "ancient profession" deserve congratulations on this day. Personally, I refuse to congratulate my mother, wife, sisters, other relatives and friends on this day. But everyone has their own head on their shoulders …
But let the female half not be upset about this! The Slavs had a feast of women's day and it was called Lelnik and it was celebrated on April 22. On this day, all Slavic girls performed rituals dedicated to Lelia and asked her for understanding with her beloved fellow and a happy marriage.