Yes, that is a NATIONAL HOLIDAY in Ukraine – businesses closed, schools out in order to spend the day honoring their women. HOW FANTASTIC IS THAT?!?
What is that all about you might be asking…….Wikipedia is our friend, but kind of long winded – let me synthesize:
WHEN?: every March 8
WHO?: While the first one was in the US in 1909, Russia adopted it in 1917 & word seemed to spread among nearby communist & socialist countries. In order to enjoy a day off for Women’s day, you will need to move to one of the following:
- Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Burkina Faso (has anyone even heard of that?!), Cambodia, Cuba, Georgia, Guinea-Bissau, Eritrea, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vietnam or Zambia
If you are a woman you have a few more options: China, Macedonia, Madagascar or Nepal
WHY?: It originated as a way to celebrate the social and political achievements of women, honor the martyrs etc. Basically to say to the ladies ‘you rock!”
WHAT?: Across the board, women are given gifts of flowers & candy. However, in some lucky countries – Ukraine!!! – everyone also get the day off! In others, just the ladies are rewarded (in China the women get a ½ day off – damn, those guys don’t get many breaks!)
What did the holiday look like for me? Well, I just returned from a business trip to Warsaw - and the driver who picked me up at the airport brought me flowers......
And Logan and the kids make me dinner....but while Logan reported the kids were great while I was away, the 'wheels seemed to fall off'' when I got home..
But things started to look up when we decided we'd pretend it was everyone's birthday today....
....and when daddy decided we should toast to the occasion!
So here's 3 cheers to all the women out there and making everyday as much of a holiday as you can!
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