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We traditionally celebrate and give gifts flowers and expensive presents to our girlfriends, wives, mothers, sisters, grandmothers... It's even OK for girls presents something nice for your men or girlfriends.
But what is it actually? the eighth of March holiday?
Women's Day was established in memory of the protest of women employed in a textile dyeing factory in New York on March 8, 1857. In the period of accelerated industrialization, it was created as an initiative for women's rights, that is, the struggle for economic, gender and social equality. The trigger for something like this was bad conditions and low wages. The tradition of organizing a protest walk was quickly established, and the most massive one was in 1908. Then 15,000 women demonstrated in the streets of New York demanding the right to vote, shorter working hours, better pay and the legalization of abortion.
Their slogan was "bread and roses". The bread symbolizes economic security, and the rose a better quality of life. Not long after, women appeared who stood out: Klara Zetkin and Rose Luxemburg, as activists, politicians and feminists. Later, this protest and holiday began to be celebrated in many countries, such as Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland. Women are also raising their voices against sex-based employment discrimination and are still demanding the right to vote and hold public office. In 1977, the United Nations declared March 8 the International Day for Women's Rights and Peace.
After the Bolshevik revolution, Alexandra Kollontai, a feminist, persuaded Lenin to make March 8 a national holiday. This was also accepted by the countries whose political and program model was the USSR. However, this holiday has mostly lost its basic idea. It now gives men an opportunity to show love and respect to members of the opposite sex, and in Western countries it mostly stopped being celebrated in the first half of the 20th century, partly because it was associated with communism. In recent times, many organizations mark Women's Day with demonstrations, lectures and actions with the aim of promoting equality and further improving women's and human rights.
One of the reasons why flowers are given to women as a sign of attention may be the very slogan "bread and roses", and another may be the following: In 1911, a tragedy occurred, where 140 women, mostly immigrants, lost their lives due to an explosion due to poor security measures the factory where they worked. With flowers we remember them too.
Today, Eight of March more reminiscent of holidays such as Mother's Day or Valentine's Day, it is embodied in giving signs of attention to loved ones, in this case: female. Those signs of attention are gifts, but above all flowers, with their strong symbolism. Women are often compared to flowers, primarily because of tenderness, beauty and strength, and that is certainly one of the reasons why, above all, this holiday inspires men to give not only their beloved wives, but also mothers, daughters, friends, colleagues, a flower as a gift, as a sign of attention.
Depending on the time, various gifts were given flowers. During communism, it was most often red carnations and red roses, then the red color, apart from the struggle and faith in a better tomorrow, also symbolized communism. Over time, the tradition, as well as the symbolism itself, has changed. Today, women are given various gifts flowers, there are no longer any rules, nor, as it were, restrictions, but still there are flowers that prevail.
Roses come first, regardless of what color it is, but red is still the leader. Then there is still the carnation, which has returned to fashion recently, primarily in the red variety. These flowers have the most pronounced symbolism in relation to color: red is passion and love, white is chastity and innocence, and pink is shy and tender love. Orchids, which are very specific in their shape and symbolize uniqueness, are increasingly being given as gifts. This flower shows admiration for the elegance and grace of a woman. The sunflower is rarely given as a gift, but it is a metaphor for the sun, strong and proud, it can tell a woman that she is the center of someone's world. In addition to these flowers, tulips, irises, daffodils, lilies and calla lilies, as well as many other types, are often given as gifts. Bouquets arranged in various ways are often given as gifts. In Italy, Festa della Donna is celebrated by giving mimosas.
A flower should be as special as the woman for whom it is intended. Besides as a sign of attention, flowers should also be given as a memory of all women and women in the future should be thought of.
Flowers are also a sign of support.
