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| Women's Day Celebration In
Sawa |
Women's Day marks the role of women in both the past and the present.
It was started to highlight the importance of working women and bring to
light their problems. However, the day is not a one-day agenda. The real
challenge lies in the spontaneous flow of feelings -- honoring and
celebrating womanhood on a particular March 8 only to forget its
importance the next day is sacrilegious.
In this article, we'd like to introduce to you the way to
celebrate International Women's Day in other countries, including the
countries in South Africa, U.S. and Russia.
 Women's day in South
Africa
 In countries like South Africa, the people celebrate the national
Women's day on 9 August every year with a variety of events.
Women's Day on 9 August marks
the day, in 1956, when 20000 women marched on the Union
Buildings in Pretoria to protest against one of the cornerstones of
apartheid - the pass laws.
The countries will nowadays celebrate the month of August, by a
ceremony promoting women in politics and decision-making positions,
awarding them certificates of honour.
Women's day in U.S .
 IWD was commemorated
in the United States during the 1910s and 1920s, but then dwindled. It was
revived during the women's movement in the 1960s, but without its
socialist associations.
In 1981, the U.S. Congress passed a
resolution establishing
National Women's History Week. The week was chosen to coincide with
International Women's Day, March 8. In 1987, Congress expanded the week to
a month. Every year since, Congress has passed a resolution for Women's
History Month, and the U.S. president has issued a proclamation. Since its
founding, the National Women's History Project has recognized and
celebrated the rich and varied contributions of women to the history and
culture of the United States.
The 2005 Women's History Month theme, "Women Change America," honors
and recognizes the role of American women in transforming culture, history
and politics as leaders, writers, scientists, educators, politicians,
artists, historians, and informed citizens. "Women Change America" also
celebrates the myriad ways in which the spirit, courage, and contributions
of American women have added to the vitality, richness, and diversity of
American life.
Women's day in
Russia
 Kollontai, a minister in the first Soviet government, persuaded
Lenin to make March 8 an official communist holiday in 1909. During the
Soviet period, the holiday celebrated "the heroic woman worker."
Today the Russians are still the
premier celebrators of the March 8 holiday. Around the
world, the event is a way to honor women's contributions to history. But
in Russia, the festivities go a step further - celebrated in the fashion
of Mother's Day with flowers or breakfast in bed-in which men boys are
expected to bestow presents and show appreciation for the women in their
lives.
Tips on Women's
Day
This day is a great way to honor the women in our lives- mothers,
sisters, wives, daughters - everyone should be made to feel special. Here
are a few ways by which you can mark the day:
1. Think about all those women who have helped in their own way to
shape your life. Do something they would have liked.
2. Consider cooking their favorite food, planting their favorite
flowers in your garden or sending a check to their favorite charity. The
idea is to make them feel special.
3. Host an all women's party and have a ball of a time.
4. Shower the women in your life with wonderful gifts (if you're a man)
expressing your love and respect towards their individuality.
5. Accept graciously when the men in your life shower you with gifts
(if you're a woman).
Background
南非妇女节时间有别于国际妇女节。
1956年8月9日，数百名黑人妇女在比勒陀利亚举行示威游行，抗议当局推行种族隔离的"通行证法"。新南非政府将这一天定为妇女节，以纪念南非妇女在争取平等斗争中所作的贡献，并将这一天定为全国公假日。
从此，每年的 8 月 9
日，南非各地的妇女纷纷举行各种形式的庆祝活动，要求实现男女平等、结束党派冲突与暴力，保证妇女生存权益和反对性骚扰与性犯罪，以消除旧南非种族隔离制度造成的根深蒂固的歧视妇女的影响。
三·八妇女节是俄罗斯人相为重视的节日之一。这一天的鲜花价格，甚至能超过情人节的价格。每个男人都会为自己心爱的人送上一束鲜花。学生也会为自己的女老师送上鲜花表达谢意。附带着鲜花的畅销货则是香槟酒了。除了送礼物外，俄罗斯人总会与亲朋好友聚在一起，庆贺一番。平时很少从事家务活的俄罗斯男人这天也会亲自下厨房，为全家人准备一顿美餐。而女士们则不必动手，坐享其成。
(英语点津陈蓓编辑） | 
