International Women’s Day is celebrated every year as a chance to herald the impact that women make around the world.
But while people in countless countries partake in the day, not as many may know the origins of the international holiday and why it began.
Learn about the history of International Women’s Day, why we celebrate it and this year’s theme below.
Follow full Women's History Month coverage on Audacy
When is International Women’s Day?
International Women’s Day is celebrated every year on March 8 during Women's History Month.
When did it first begin?
The day was first celebrated in 1911 in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland, according to the BBC.
The lineage of the celebration can be traced back to 1908, when 15,000 female workers marched in New York City as they sought more humane working hours, better pay and the right to vote. The Socialist Party of America would go on to declare the first National Woman's Day in 1909.
IIn 1910, women’s rights activist Clara Zetkin proposed making the event worldwide at an International Conference of Working Women in Copenhagen.
In 1975, the United Nations formally recognized and celebrated the event for the first time.
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Why do we celebrate International Women’s Day?
According to the official website, IWD is “a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women.” While the day is meant to honor the progress and achievements of women all over the world, it is also a vehicle to raise awareness and encourage accelerated gender parity and fundraise for female-focused charities.
What are the official colors of International Women’s Day?
The colors of IWD are purple, green and white, the official site explains. Purple symbolizes justice and dignity, while green represents hope and white represents purity (the latter is considered controversial by some). These three colors originated from the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU) in the UK in 1908.
What is the theme for IWD 2022?
International Women’s Day is ascribed a different theme each year. In 2022, the campaign theme for the celebration is #BreaktheBias. The IWD wants us to “imagine a gender equal world” that’s “free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination,” where everything is “diverse, equitable, and inclusive.” They envision a “world where difference is valued and celebrated.” “Together we can forge women's equality,” the site notes.
How is it celebrated?
The holiday is celebrated differently in various countries.
In addition to IWD on March 8, Americans celebrate Women’s History Month for all of March. In Russia, the sale of flowers decreases by 3 or 4 times on March 8. In China, many women receive a half-day off of work on the date, a nod to the celebration’s roots in the labor movement.
The official IWD site allows you to search for events and ways to celebrate by country.
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