Festa della Donna

Today is International Women's Day - a day to celebrate the achievements of women across all fields and progress in the fight for equality achievements without regard to divisions, whether national, ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic or political. It is an occasion for looking back on past struggles and accomplishments, and more importantly, for looking ahead to the untapped potential and opportunities that await future generations of women.

Although International Woman's Day started as a political event in the early 1900s, the holiday blended in the culture of many countries, including the culture of Italy. Over the years, International Woman's Day (Festa della Donna) lost its political tangent, and became simply an occasion for men to express their love to the women around them in a way somewhat similar to Mother's Day and St Valentine's Day.

International Women’s Day has its roots in two events that took place outside of Italy. On March 8, 1857 a strike by garment workers in New York, led to the formation of the first women's union in the United States. Sixty years later Russian women led a strike calling for "bread and peace" during the twin horrors of World War I and the Russian Revolution. In 1945 the Union of Italian Women declared that this special date, March 8, should be set aside to celebrate womanhood across the country.





Italians are fond of this celebration, even if some criticize it as being an excuse used by men to make up for a year long of neglect toward their partners. It is also criticized for being more and more of a commercial and marketing initiative, with its civil and political meaning pushed every year further in the background. Feminist movements also criticize how some women celebrate this holiday, by having wild women-only nights, sometimes even going to male stripper shows and so on.

While it is true that men should show their love and care every day of the year, Italians appreciate having a special day reserved for their women. Women in Italy don’t need a special day to go out and celebrate in a women-only night, but they live this particular night with enthusiasm.

What does happen in Italy on the 8th of March, then? The symbol of the day is the yellow mimosa and expression of female solidarity. The origin of the custom is lost, but it is said to have started in Rome after World War II. Men began giving the mimosa to their partners, friends, co-workers and family give to their significant others, colleagues, mothers and sisters blossoming branches of this tree. Scent of mimosas fills the air and remember to every one not only the meaning of this day, but also that spring is nearing. Everybody tries his best to be extra gentle and caring with all women.

While men show all their love for women, society as a whole remembers the importance of women, their important contribute to the betterment of our society and their sacrifices, celebrates their achievements. Cultural demonstrations and political rallies remember to all of us all fights women had to endure for their rights and what is till left to do in order to have every member of society, male or female, treated in perfect equal way.

BUONA FESTA DELLA DONNA!