International Women's Day in Russia honors the achievements, strength, and contributions of women in all spheres of life. It is both a public holiday and a day of appreciation, marked by flowers, gifts and expressions of gratitude to women from family, friends and colleagues.

When is Unity Day?

International Women's Day in Russia is celebrated on March 8 every year.

The following is the list of International Women's Day from 2020 to 2049.

The History of International Women's Day?

International Women's Day (IWD) has its roots in the early 20th-century struggle for women's rights, particularly in Europe and North America. The idea emerged from the Socialist International Conference in Copenhagen (1910), where German activist Clara Zetkin proposed an annual day to promote equal rights, suffrage and fair labor conditions for women. The first official observance took place in 1911 in several European countries, becoming a powerful symbol of social progress and equality.

Russia played a pivotal role in the history of International Women's Day. On February 23, 1917 (March 8 in the Gregorian calendar), thousands of women workers in Petrograd (now St. Petersburg) went on strike. This spontaneous protest grew rapidly, sparking mass demonstrations that led to the abdication of Tsar Nicholas II and the collapse of the Russian Empire within weeks.

Historians mark this women-led uprising as the beginning of the February Revolution, a turning point in Russian and world history. In honor of their contribution, the Soviet government later designated March 8 as a holiday celebrating women and their social achievements.

In 1921, the Soviet Union officially established March 8 as International Women's Day, commemorating both the Petrograd strike and the broader struggle for women's emancipation. While the early decades emphasized women as workers and revolutionaries, later observances became more festive and family-oriented, celebrating women's roles in both public life and at home.

After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, International Women's Day remained a national holiday in Russia, but its meaning shifted from political activism to personal appreciation.

Today, March 8 is one of the most beloved holidays in Russia, comparable in warmth to Mother's Day and Valentine's Day combined. The focus is on honoring women's contributions to family, work, and society through gestures of kindness, gratitude, and love.