March 8 is significant to me for two reasons.  It’s my son Edward’s birthday.

Secondly, it is International Women’s Day (IWD), originally called International Working Women’s Day.  Started as a Socialist political event in the early 1900’s, the holiday blended in the culture of many countries, primarily in Eastern Europe.

In 1911, International Women’s Day (IWD) was honored for the first time in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland on 19 March. More than one million women and men attended IWD rallies campaigning for women’s rights to work, vote, be trained, to hold public office and end discrimination. However less than a week later on 25 March, the tragic ‘Triangle Fire’ in New York City took the lives of more than 140 working women, most of them Italian and Jewish immigrants. This disastrous event drew significant attention to working conditions and labor legislation in the United States that became a focus of subsequent International Women’s Day events.

In the West, International Women’s Day was first observed as a popular event after 1977 when the United Nations General Assembly invited member states to proclaim March 8 as the UN Day for Women’s Rights and International Peace. The United States also designates the entire month of March as ‘Women’s History Month’.

Annually on 8 March, a range of diverse events are held throughout the world to inspire women and celebrate achievements. Local activities connect women globally in solidarity with activities ranging from political rallies, business conferences, government activities and networking events through to local women’s craft markets, theatric performances, fashion parades and more.

• Who are the women who inspire and uplift you?
• Do you have a heroine or woman role model that you seek to emulate?
• How will you celebrate IWD and who will you recognize and celebrate?
• In what ways are you making history?

The UN theme for International Women’s Day 2012 is Empower Women – End Hunger and Poverty.

Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Women’s_Day; http://www.internationalwomensday.com/about.asp