Snart är det.....8 mars!

På torsdag nästa vecka innfaller Rysslands egen 'Valentines Day' - 'Vasmåva marta'!

På torsdag är det helgdag i Ryssland - Internationella kvinnodagen är en stor högtid här och har varit så länge. Det är bra att ge blommor till alla kvinnor i när och fjärran. Det kommer att vara full rusch i blomsteraffärerna dagarna innan och på själva 8:e mars.

Dagen kallas kort och gott, Vasmåva marta, den 8:e mars. Förr, under sovjettiden var det mimosa-blommor som gällde men nu funkar vilka blommor som helst - om man har med ryskor att göra så är blommor ett måste denna dag som inte får missas!

Någonstans läste jag att dagen i Ryssland kan liknas vid en kombinerad 'Alla Hjärtans Dag' och 'Mors Dag' - så alla typer av kvinnokärlek är välkommet på just denna dag! Det viktigaste är att absolut inte glömma det och att definitivt gratulera alla kvinnor!


Så här säger du på ryska:

Paztravliaajo vas sö vasmiim maarta! (Gratulerar er på 8:e mars!)  eller kanske ännu bättre så här: Zhelaajo vam lobvii i schaastia! - (Önskar er kärlek och lycka!)
Allra enklast är: Sö praazdnikåm! (Grattis på högtidsdagen..)


Nedan följer mer historia etc om dagen för den som vill läsa mer på eng...

International Women's Day (IWD), originally called International Working Women’s Day is marked on the 8th of March every year.^[1] It is a major day of global celebration of women. In different regions the focus of the celebrations ranges from general celebration of respect, appreciation and love towards women to a celebration for women's economic, political and social achievements.

Started as a Socialist political event, the holiday blended in the culture of many countries, primarily Eastern Europe, Russia, and the former Soviet bloc. In many regions, the day lost its political flavour, and became simply an occasion for men to express their love for women in a way somewhat similar to a mixture of Mother's Day and St Valentine's Day. In other regions, however, the original political and human rights theme designated by the United Nations runs strong, and political and social awareness of the struggles of women worldwide are brought out and examined in a hopeful manner.

The mimosa (technically, the Silver Wattle) is the symbol of the celebrations of Women's day in ItalyRussia. and

The first IWD was observed on 19 March 1911 in Germany following a declaration by the Socialist Party of America. The idea of having an international women's day was first put forward at the turn of the 20th century amid rapid world industrialization and economic expansion that led to protests over working conditions^{[citation needed]}

In 1910, Second International held the first international women's conference in Copenhagen (in the labour-movement building located at Jagtvej 69, which until recently housed Ungdomshuset). An 'International Women's Day' was established. It was suggested by the important German Socialist Clara Zetkin, although no date was specified.^[2] The following year, 1911, IWD was marked by over a million people in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland, on March 19.^[3] In the West, International Women's Day was first observed as a popular event after 1977 when the united Nations General Assembly invited member states to proclaim March 8 as the UN Day for Women's Rights and International Peace.^{[citation needed]}

Demonstrations marking International Women's Day in Russia proved to be the first stage of the Russian Revolution of 1917.^{[citation needed]}

Following the October Revolution, the Bolshevik Alexandra Kollontai persuaded Lenin to make it an official holiday in the Soviet Union, and it was established, but was a working day until 1965. On May 8, 1965 by the decree of the USSR Presidium of the Supreme Soviet International Women's Day was declared a non working day in the USSR "in commemoration of the outstanding merits of Soviet women in communistic construction, in the defense of their Fatherland during the Great Patriotic War, in their heroism and selflessness at the front and in the rear, and also marking the great contribution of women to strengthening friendship between peoples, and the struggle for peace. But still, women's day must be celebrated as are other holidays."

On this day it is customary for men to give the women in their lives - mothers, wives, girlfriends, daughters, colleagues, etc. - flowers and small gifts. In some countries (such as Romania) it is also observed as an equivalent of Mother's Day, where children also give small presents to their mothers and grandmothers.

In Armenia, after the collapse of the Soviet Union celebrations of IWD were abandoned. Instead, April 7 was introduced as state holiday of ‘Beauty and Motherhood’. The new holiday immediately got popular among Armenians, as it commemorates one of the main holidays of the Armenian Church, the Annunciation. However, people still kept celebrating IWD on March 8 as well. Public discussion held on the topic of two ‘Women’s Days’ in Armenia resulted in the recognition of the so called ‘Women’s Month’ which is the period between March 8 and April 7.

In Italy, to celebrate the day, men give yellow mimosas to women.^[20][21] Yellow mimosas and chocolate are also one of the most common March 8 presents in Russia and Albania.

In many countries, such as In Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Croatia, Estonia, Hungary, Lithuania, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia and Slovenia, the custom of giving women flowers still prevails. Women sometimes get gifts from their employers too. Schoolchildren often bring gifts for their teachers as well.

In countries like Portugal groups of women usually celebrate on the night of 8 March in "women-only" dinners and parties.^{[citation needed]}

In India, IWD holds a lot of significance. Many celebrations are held during the day.

In Pakistan working women in formal and informal sectors celebrate International Women's Day every year to commemorate their ongoing struggle for due rights, despite facing many cultural and religious restrictions. Some women working for change in society use IWM to help the movement for women's rights. In Poland, for instance, every IWD includes large feminist demonstrations in major cities.^[22]

In 1975, which had been designated as International Women’s Year, the United Nations gave official sanction to and began sponsoring International Women's Day.

The 2005, Congress (conference) of the British Trades Union Congress overwhelmingly approved a resolution calling for IWD to be designated a public holiday in the United Kingdom.

Since 2005, IWD has been celebrated in Montevideo, either on the principal street, 18 de Julio, or alternatively through one of its neighbourhoods. The event has attracted much publicity due to a group of female drummers, La Melaza, who have performed each year.^[23]

Today, many events are held by women's groups around the world. The UK-based marketing company Aurora hosts a free worldwide register of IWD local events^[24] so that women and the media can learn about local activity. Many governments and organizations around the world support IWD.

In the Czech Republic (then part of Czechoslovak Socialist Republic), huge Soviet style celebrations were held annually. After the fall of Communism, the holiday, generally considered to be one of the major symbols of the old regime, fell into obscurity. International Women's Day was re-established as an official "important day" by the Parliament only recently, on the proposal of the Social-democrats and Communists. This has provoked some controversy as a large part of public as well as the political right see the holiday as a relic of the nation's Communist past. In 2008, the conservative Catholic People's party's deputies proposed abolishment of the holiday unsuccessfully. However, some non-government organizations consider International Women's Day's official recognition as an important reminder of the women's role in the society. Still, unlike in the past, the holiday is no longer observed by the general public in any significant way.