When was the first international women's day celebrated?

English
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when was the first international women’s day celebrated?

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When was the first international women’s day celebrated?

Answer:

International Women’s Day (IWD) traces its roots back to the early 20th century, developing from labor movements and women’s rights campaigns in North America and Europe. Below is a chronological overview:

  1. 1909 – National Woman’s Day in the United States:
    The Socialist Party of America declared the first National Woman’s Day on February 28, 1909. Although this event took place in the United States, it laid the groundwork for a broader international movement.

  2. 1910 – Decision in Copenhagen:
    German feminist and socialist leader Clara Zetkin proposed establishing an annual “Women’s Day” at the Second International Conference of Working Women held in Copenhagen, Denmark. Though no fixed date was set at this meeting, the idea for an international celebration gained traction.

  3. 1911 – First International Women’s Day Observed:
    The first official International Women’s Day was celebrated on March 19, 1911, in Austria, Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland. More than one million women and men attended rallies, demanding women’s rights to work, vote, and hold public office.

  4. 1913–1914 – Moving Toward March 8:
    Various gatherings and demonstrations took place across Europe around late February to early March. Russian women observed International Women’s Day for the first time on the last Saturday in February 1913, according to the Julian calendar.

  5. 1917 – March 8 in Russia:
    Amid the turbulence of World War I, Russian women staged a strike for “Bread and Peace” on March 8, 1917 (February 23 in the Julian calendar). Their protest contributed to broader social and political changes in Russia, eventually reinforcing March 8 as the enduring date for International Women’s Day.

  6. 1975 – United Nations Recognition:
    The UN celebrated International Women’s Day for the first time in 1975, and in 1977, the General Assembly invited member states to proclaim March 8 as the UN Day for women’s rights and world peace.

Key Historical Milestones of International Women’s Day

Date Event Significance
1909 (February 28) First National Woman’s Day in the US Spread awareness of women’s rights issues
1910 (August) Copenhagen Conference Clara Zetkin’s proposal for an annual “Women’s Day”
1911 (March 19) First official International Women’s Day in Europe Over one million participants demanded women’s rights
1917 (March 8, Julian Feb 23) Russian women’s strike for “Bread and Peace” Solidified March 8 as the standard IWD date
1975 United Nations celebrated International Women’s Day for 1st time Gave global recognition to IWD
1977 UN General Assembly invited member states to observe March 8 Emphasized IWD as a day for women’s rights

In summary, while the first International Women’s Day was celebrated on March 19, 1911, it later shifted to March 8, largely due to the events in Russia in 1917. Today, March 8 is recognized worldwide as a day to celebrate women’s achievements and advocate for gender equality.

References:

  • United Nations. (1975). First celebration of International Women’s Day by the UN.
  • UN Women. (2020). History of International Women’s Day.

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