When is International Women's Day 2025, when did it start, and how is it celebrated globally?
International Women’s Day serves as a vital reminder of the significant contributions women have made to society, culture, and history. The focus is on celebrating these achievements while working towards a world of gender equality.
For over a century, March 8 has been recognised worldwide as International Women’s Day. But what is the significance of this day, and why does it matter?
International Women’s Day (IWD) has its roots in the labour movement, with its origins traced back to 1908. That year, 15,000 women marched through New York City demanding shorter working hours, better pay, and the right to vote.
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Just a year later, the Socialist Party of America declared the first National Woman's Day. However, it was Clara Zetkin, a communist activist and women’s rights advocate, who proposed making it an international event. In 1910, she raised the idea at the International Conference of Working Women in Copenhagen, where it was met with unanimous support from the 100 women representing 17 countries.
The first International Women’s Day was celebrated in 1911, in Austria, Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland. The United Nations (UN) began officially recognising the event in 1975, with its first theme, introduced in 1996, titled 'Celebrating the Past, Planning for the Future'.
Zetkin’s original vision for an international celebration of women wasn’t tied to a specific date. However, March 8 was later chosen after a powerful moment in history.
In 1917, Russian women took to the streets demanding "bread and peace" during a wartime strike. Just four days later, Tsar Nicholas II was forced to abdicate, and the provisional government granted women the right to vote.
At the time, Russia used the Julian calendar, which placed the start of the strike on February 23. In the widely-used Gregorian calendar, that date corresponds to March 8, which is why International Women’s Day is now celebrated on this date worldwide.
In many countries, IWD is a national holiday. For example, in China, women enjoy a half-day off work, as per a directive from the State Council. Around the world, thousands of events take place in celebration, including marches, talks, concerts, exhibitions, and debates.
In Italy, International Women’s Day is known as Festa della Donna, and mimosa blossoms are commonly given as gifts. In Russia, flower sales typically double during this time, with mimosas also a popular choice.
In the United States, March is designated as Women's History Month, with a presidential proclamation issued annually to honour the achievements of American women.
Purple, green, and white are the official colours of International Women's Day, as outlined by the event’s website. According to the site, “Purple signifies justice and dignity. Green symbolises hope. White represents purity, albeit a controversial concept.”
These colours were first adopted by the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU), a UK-based group founded in 1903 that campaigned for women’s right to vote.
The official theme for International Women’s Day 2025, as stated on the IWD website, is Accelerate Action. The website highlights: "Step forward in solidarity for International Women's Day (IWD) 2025 on March 8 to help #AccelerateAction."
At the current pace of progress, achieving full gender parity will take until 2158, or roughly five generations from now, according to data from the World Economic Forum.
"Focusing on the need to Accelerate Action emphasizes the importance of taking swift and decisive steps to achieve gender equality. It calls for increased momentum and urgency in addressing the systemic barriers and biases that women face, both in personal and professional spheres," it added.
