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International Women’s Day 2026: Every year on March 8, International Women’s Day honours women’s achievements, raises awareness about gender equality, and promotes female empowerment. This global celebration
highlights women’s social, economic, cultural, and political contributions while also spotlighting initiatives that advance their rights and opportunities. Here are a few key facts you should know about this internationally recognised day:
ALSO READ: International Women’s Day 2026: History, Significance, Theme And Global Celebrations
International Women’s Day 2026: Key Facts
- The Socialist Party of America organised the first National Women’s Day in the United States on February 28, 1909.
- Clara Zetkin, a German feminist, proposed an International Women’s Day during the International Conference of Working Women in Copenhagen in 1910.
- The date was chosen to commemorate a 1917 walkout by Russian women seeking “bread and peace” during World War I, which helped spark the Russian Revolution.
- The Russian women’s demonstration was in response to severe food shortages, World War I, and a campaign for gender equality.
- The United Nations formally began honouring IWD on March 8, 1975.
- International Women’s Day is a public holiday in numerous countries, including Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Cuba, and Vietnam.
- In 2019, Germany made International Women’s Day a public holiday.
- Purple, green, and white are the traditional colours for IWD.
- Purple denotes justice and dignity; green represents optimism; and white represents purity.
- Purple has a long-standing connection to the women’s suffrage movement, which fought for their right to vote in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
- In some countries, such as Serbia, Albania, Bulgaria, Romania, Macedonia, and Uzbekistan, the two festivals that commemorate women, International Women’s Day and Mother’s Day, are combined and celebrated on the same day.
- Many countries observe International Women’s Day by giving flowers to women. The flower varies per region, but the most typical option is the yellow Mimosa, which denotes sensitivity and strength.
- The yellow Mimosa flowers gifting tradition that originated in Italy. In the early twentieth century, Italian feminists adopted the Mimosa as a symbol of the women’s rights movement.
- In 2018, around 5 million individuals across the country took part in a 24-hour feminist strike and marches to protest gender injustice, salary disparities, and domestic violence.
- On March 8, 1983, Sally Ride made history by becoming the first American woman to travel into space. This feat occurred on International Women’s Day, which added significance to the celebration.
- Early festivities were strongly linked to the movement for women’s suffrage.
- Instead of a day of celebration, International Women’s Day is largely a day of global action, protests, and campaigns.
- The official International Women’s Day website serves as a campaign hub, bringing together activists and organisers from throughout the world.
- As per the UN, in nearly 70 per cent of surveyed countries, women face more barriers accessing justice than men.
- In the US, the whole of March is celebrated as Women’s History Month. This event was started in February 1980 when President Jimmy Carter
- In China, many organisations offer female employees a half-day off work on International Women’s Day to spend the noon celebrating.
- On March 25, 1911, shortly after the inaugural IWD, a horrific fire erupted at New York City’s Triangle Shirtwaist Factory.
- More than 140 workers died as a result of the catastrophe, most of whom were young immigrant women.
- The 2026 campaign’s theme is ‘Give to Gain’. This subject focuses on generosity, teamwork, and investment in advancing gender equality.
- It emphasises the need to provide resources, education, mentorship, funding, and opportunity to make the world a more equitable and prosperous place for everybody.
