The Poles have it right on today....they are celebrating Womens Day...a day to celebrate all women. I like this idea!!! Tom celebrted the proper way by buying me flowers as well as buying all of the women in his office flowers. While buying flowers for female colleagues may send the wrong message in the U.S. it is completely normal and expected here on this day.
Here is a brief explanation of the holiday:
A holdover from Soviet Union rule -- Dzien Kobiet or Women's Day -- is celebrated on March 8.
The holiday was created in 1948, in part, to replace the Roman Catholic feast day of Blessed Wincenty Kadlubek, a 12th-century monk, but also to glorify the ideals of women as hard-working contributors to the economy -- sort of a women's equality day. Although initially this feast was enforced by the government, it became accepted and part of Polish culture. And, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, it is still celebrated.
While Valentine's Day is more privately celebrated between lovers in Poland, Women's Day is celebrated more as a national holiday for all women, regardless of age. They receive special attention, usually flowers, sweets and small gifts, not only privately, but at work and schools. The Western trend of giving greeting cards is creeping into this holiday.
Women's Day is now an official holiday in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Macedonia, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, and other Eastern European countries.
The holiday was created in 1948, in part, to replace the Roman Catholic feast day of Blessed Wincenty Kadlubek, a 12th-century monk, but also to glorify the ideals of women as hard-working contributors to the economy -- sort of a women's equality day. Although initially this feast was enforced by the government, it became accepted and part of Polish culture. And, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, it is still celebrated.
While Valentine's Day is more privately celebrated between lovers in Poland, Women's Day is celebrated more as a national holiday for all women, regardless of age. They receive special attention, usually flowers, sweets and small gifts, not only privately, but at work and schools. The Western trend of giving greeting cards is creeping into this holiday.
Women's Day is now an official holiday in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Macedonia, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, and other Eastern European countries.
