8 Facts About International Women’s Day

For more than 100 years, countries around the world have celebrated what has come to be known as International Women’s Day. While its purpose differs from place to place—in some countries it’s a day of protest, in others it’s a way to celebrate the accomplishments of women and promote gender equality—the holiday, which occurs each year on March 8, is more than just a simple hashtag. Let’s take a moment to explore the day’s origins and traditions.

1. International Women’s Day originated more than 100 years ago
2. The celebration got women the vote in Russia
3. The United Nations officially adopted International Women’s Day in 1975
4. International Women’s Day is an official holiday in dozens of countries
5. International Women’s Day is combined with Mother’s Day in several places
6. There are some quirky sub-celebrations
7. The internet helped to revive the holiday
8. Each year’s International Women’s Day festivities have an official theme

International Women’s Day originated more than 100 years ago

On February 28, 1909, the now-dissolved Socialist Party of America organized the first National Woman’s Day, which took place on the last Sunday in February. In 1910, Clara Zetkin—the leader of Germany’s Women’s Office for the Social Democratic Party—proposed the idea of a global International Women’s Day, so that people around the world could celebrate at the same time.

On March 19, 1911, the first International Women’s Day was held; more than 1 million people in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and Denmark took part.

The celebration got women the vote in Russia

In 1917, women in Russia honored the day by beginning a strike for “bread and peace” as a way to protest World War I and advocate for gender parity. Czar Nicholas II, the country’s leader at the time, was not impressed and instructed General Khabalov of the Petrograd Military District to put an end to the protests—and to shoot any woman who refused to stand down.

But the women wouldn’t be intimidated and continued their protests, which led the czar to abdicate just days later. The provisional government then granted women in Russia the right to vote.

The United Nations officially adopted International Women’s Day in 1975

In 1975, the United Nations—which had dubbed the year International Women’s Year—celebrated International Women’s Day on March 8 for the first time. Since then, the UN has become the primary sponsor of the annual event and has encouraged even more countries around the world to embrace the holiday and its goal of celebrating “acts of courage and determination by ordinary women who have played an extraordinary role in the history of their countries and communities.”

International Women’s Day is an official holiday in dozens of countries

International Women’s Day is a day of celebration around the world, and an official holiday in dozens of countries. Afghanistan, Cuba, Vietnam, Uganda, Mongolia, Georgia, Laos, Cambodia, Armenia, Belarus, Montenegro, Russia, and Ukraine are just some of the places where March 8 is recognized as an official holiday.

International Women’s Day is combined with Mother’s Day in several places

In the same way that Mother’s Day doubles as a sort of women’s appreciation day, the two holidays are combined in some countries, including Serbia, Albania, Macedonia, and Uzbekistan. On this day, children present their mothers and grandmothers with small gifts and tokens of love and appreciation.

There are some quirky sub-celebrations

Different geos celebrate International Women’s Day differently, as evidenced in our list already, but you might not expect as niche as festivities as International Women’s Collaboration Brew Day, also taking place on March 8. Using the holiday as an opportunity for women to connect on similar interests, this celebration invites women in the beer industry to collaborate and raise money for women’s organizations. This year’s theme is UNITE BELONGING.

The internet helped to revive the holiday

After such incredible milestones throughout the history of International Women’s Day, the holiday needed a boost by the year 2000, and in 2001, the launch of the official website started to connect communities in the internet age. Though there was no social media, the rising popularity of the internet offered a place for information and resource sharing, promotion of the official themes, and other ways for women and allies to work together virtually.

Eventually, social media served as another similar tool, with platforms offering more spaces for people to connect on women’s issues and key initiatives.

Each year’s International Women’s Day festivities have an official theme

In 1996, the UN created a theme for that year’s International Women’s Day: Celebrating the Past, Planning for the Future. In 1997, it was “Women at the Peace Table,” then “Women and Human Rights” in 1998. That tradition has continued in the years since: For 2026, the theme of International Women’s Day is “Give to Gain.” The UN’s theme is “Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls.”

Learn More About Women’s History:

A version of this story originally ran in 2019; it has been updated for 2026.