International Women’s Day is celebrated on March 8th all around the world, but the way people celebrate it can look very different depending on the country where they live. Living in the United States now but being born and raised in Poland has made me notice those differences. Even though the holiday has the same purpose everywhere (to acknowledge women and their achievements toward gender equality), the traditions and the way people celebrate this holiday are completely different.
In the United States, Women’s Day is usually more about awareness, a symbolic day where people reflect on the history of women’s rights. Most Americans don’t actually know about this holiday or when it is. However, in Poland and many other Slavic countries, like Czech, Slovak, Ukrainian, Russian, Serbian, Bulgarian, Slovenian, etc, Women’s Day is celebrated in a more personal and traditional way. Even though each country has their own culture, many of them celebrate Women’s Day in a similar way, like many other holidays.
The difference between countries like the U.S. and Poland is that, in Poland, Women’s Day is a very well-known holiday and almost everyone celebrates it. This day is more like a celebration of women themselves, rather than only a discussion about women’s rights. On this day, women usually get flowers, chocolates, and small gifts. Men often give flowers to the women in their lives, including mothers, sisters, girlfriends, teachers, co-workers, and/or female friends.
I remember when I was younger and still living in Poland. We celebrated Women’s Day at school. In kindergarten, girls would often get small gifts or flowers from boys. Later on, in middle school, the same thing: boys in the class would usually bring something for the girls and female teachers, like chocolates or flowers. It wasn’t anything big but still a really nice tradition that made the day feel more special.
The history of Women’s Day is actually connected to both women’s rights and the celebration of women. The holiday originally started in the early 1900s as part of the movement toward women’s rights and gender equality, including better working conditions and voting rights. Over time, different countries began celebrating the day in their own ways. In many Eastern European and Slavic countries, the holiday became a cultural tradition focused on appreciating and respecting women.
Growing up in Poland, with Polish traditions, Women’s Day was always a positive and special tradition where women feel appreciated and receive gifts. Being in the United States for some time now has shown me another side of this holiday, where it’s not celebrated as much or even at all. Spreading awareness about this important day may, however, make it more meaningful slowly but surely.
