March 8: International Women's Day

March 8th International Women's Day

©iStockphoto.com/Anpet2000

Russia inherited several public holidays from the era of the Soviet Union. For example, Defender of the Fatherland Day (originally known as Red Army Day) is celebrated on February 23rd. In a broad sense, this holiday celebrates people who are serving or were serving the Russian Armed Forces. Due to a common Russian stereotype that the role of the defender is reserved for males, the holiday has more recently come to celebrate Russia's men as a whole. However, there is also a special day for women—International Women's Day—which is celebrated in the first month of spring on March 8th. One might compare March 8th in Russia with Mother's Day in the West, although the Russian