La Festa della Donna

These two beautiful study abroad students, Katelyn and Kim, have just been presented with yellow mimosas, the traditional flower given in Italy on La Festa della Donna (The Feast of the Woman). Just what is La Festa della Donna? This special day, also known as International Women's Day, is celebrated in Italy and around the world on March 8 in recognition of women's rights and the special role women play in society.

International Women's Day has been observed since the early 1900s. In the early 1900s women had few rights and atrocious working conditions. In 1908, 15,000 women marched through New York City demanding the right to vote, better pay, and shorter hours. Shortly after, on February 28, 1909, the first National Women's day was observed in the United States. The event went international in 1911 when the day was observed by Austria, Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland. In addition to better working conditions and the right to vote, women also marched on March 19, 1911, for the right to hold public office and for an end to discrimination against women. A few days later, on March 25, the horrific "Triangle Fire" broke out in a shirtwaist factory New York City, taking the lives of 140 women, many of them Italian and Jewish immigrants. The conditions in the factory were horrible; the women were working in crowded, dirty facilities, 60-72 hour a week, for about $1.50 a week. This disaster gained international attention and resulted in International Women's Day becoming even more widespread. Eventually March 8 became the official date to celebraet International Women's Day.

Italy refers to this day at La Festa della Donna, and it has been observed in this country on March 8 since 1945. In 1946 the custom of giving flowers to women began; across Italy men give their wives, mothers, daughters, employees, and other women sprigs of bright yellow Mimosa flowers. The streets are filled on March 8 with vendors selling this beautiful flower, making it truly a day of celebration.