International Women's Day 2023: Celebrating A Beautiful Tradition

International Women’s Day 2023 isn’t just another commercial holiday. Steeped in years of history and hard work, beautiful traditions have bloomed as a result of this international holiday, like meaningful marches, sending roses to loved ones, and even taking the day off work in some countries.

If you haven’t heard of this awesome holiday celebrated on March 8th, then you’ve been missing out. But there’s still time to catch up so you can celebrate International Women’s Day 2023!

What is International Women’s Day 2023?

First kicked off in New York City as a fresh idea in 1909, the original motivation behind IWD was to call attention to all working women who were contributing to the economy. The idea gained support in both the U.S. and in Europe, and within just a few years, March 8th started seeing special protests, marches, and public discussions concerning women’s rights in several countries around the world.

While International Women’s Day started as a simple concept, it has expanded over the decades to symbolize so much more. Recognition of working women’s contributions to society helped rally the cause for the women’s right to vote and hold public office. And as communities around the world changed with the times (at different paces), the IWD began to symbolize a greater concept of women’s rights. International Women’s Day was eventually adopted by the Feminist Movement in the sixties before the United Nations officially acknowledged the annual holiday in 1975. The worldwide popularity of International Women’s Day has successfully called attention to specific women’s issues around the world, such as discrimination, unequal pay, and fair access to education, including these topics in a global discussion of women’s rights.

Flowers – A Fun IWD Tradition

A number of unique traditions have been created to highlight International Women’s Day around the globe. In addition to having marches, parades, and public events, there are also distinct gestures that mark IWD on March 8th each year, including flowers. Sending roses is one tradition that has been widely adopted by folks around the world. And we’re not just talking about sending roses to your wife or mother—everyone can join this tradition by sending roses to the meaningful women in their lives, including sisters, friends, colleagues, neighbors, teachers, and more.

Sending roses to commemorate International Women’s Day is such a popular tradition in Russia that the average flower shop can expect to make an entire month’s worth of flower sales on March 8th alone. In Italy, on the other hand, a specific type of flower has become the symbol of International Women’s Day: the yellow mimosa. This gorgeous yellow flower was chosen to symbolize IWD back in 1946 for its beauty, strength, and resilience—qualities that resonate with the values of the Feminist Movement.

Modern IWD Celebrations

Today, International Women’s Day 2023 continues to hold a special place for people around the world, celebrating all things involved with womanhood and advocating for gender equality. Some countries even recognize March 8th as an official public holiday! And while not all regions acknowledge this important holiday to the same extent, the United Nations plays a huge role in advocating for women’s rights around the world—not just on March 8th, but every single day.

How Can I Join the 2023 IWD Celebrations?

There are many ways to celebrate International Women's Day 2023. Take part in the floral tradition and send roses to the special women in your life. And if you’re keen on adopting the Italian symbolism, why not pick out some bright yellow roses that share a similar hue to the yellow mimosa flower? Check out the Golden Sunflower Bouquet, which combines yellow lilies, sunflowers, and roses. For a softer shade of yellow, try the Sunshine Garden Bouquet, which is an absolutely stunning arrangement of delicate roses. Remember, the yellow color symbolizes some of the most amazing qualities that the strong women in our lives demonstrate, making it perfect for International Women's Day 2023!

You can also take part in celebrating International Women's Day 2023 by checking out local events in your area on March 8th. Many cities hold special celebrations to mark this important day. As pandemic restrictions start to wind down, more festivities are being planned for International Women's Day 2023, and there are a lot of virtual events, in-person events, and other great ways to celebrate safely.

Is there a theme for International Women's Day 2023?

Whether you decide to send extra-long stemmed roses, shop at a female-owned business, or join in a public march, be sure to use this year's International Women's Day 2023 theme #EmbraceEquity. This theme is all about recognizing the various inequalities at play that affect some more than others. Inclusivity is all about promoting equity, not just equality!

This year's theme is part of a long succession of cool and thought-provoking IWD themes. In 2021, the hashtag was #ChooseToChallenge, which emphasized the unique power that we each play in advocating for equality and gender rights. In 2022, the theme for International Women's Day 2022 was #BreakTheBias. Though we've come a long way, gender discrimination is still very present in many communities, and it sometimes takes place right before our eyes.

Whether it's a boss who makes a belittling remark, a beloved relative who treats their nieces differently than their nephews, or an old friend who has posted questionable opinions online, challenging discriminatory ideas can be difficult, awkward, and uncomfortable. But staying silent and letting these remarks slide by can help perpetuate gender discrimination.

When you #BreakTheBias, you make a commitment to speak up against hurtful stereotypes rooted in gender. By calling out these unfair stereotypes, we can all create a safer space for everyone to be treated equally. This year's IWD theme, #BreakTheBias, is powerful because it can push us all to stand up for what we believe in and make the world a better place.

So, no matter how you celebrate International Women's Day 2023, don't forget to use this year's theme and tag #EmbraceEquity in your photos and check-ins! And if you decide to send gorgeous roses for International Women’s Day, be sure to tag @rosaholics in your photos, too, using the hashtag #Rosaholics! Happy International Women’s Day 2023!

Other 2023 Holidays that Celebrate Women

International Women's Day 2023 isn't the only occasion to send flowers to the important women in your life! In fact, the entire month of March is aimed at celebrating women's history. Looking for other holidays that celebrate women? You may have missed Galentine's Day 2023, but check out this list for more awesome female-focused holidays to celebrate in 2023.

• February 3 - Women's Physician Day 2023
• February 5 - National Wear Red Day for Women's Heart Health Day 2023
• February 13 - Galentine's Day 2023
• March - Women's History Month 2023
• March 24 - Women's Equal Pay Day 2023
• June 1 - National Women's Golf Day 2023
• August 26 - Women's Equality Day and Women's Rights Day 2023
• October 11 - International Day of the Girl 2023

Read also: 

How To Make Fresh Flowers Last Longer