This is the day when Russian men express their love and admiration for Russian women. This includes all the women they are acquainted to: distant and close relatives, colleagues, and all female friends. Men usually give flowers and greeting cards to the fair sex, but in some cases they have to put much more effort and money, because some ladies consider this the most important holiday of the year.

In Russia there are two holidays that supplement each other: March 8 and February 23, Women’s Day and Men’s Day accordingly. They are like a reflection of each other: on 8 March men are expected to give presents to all the women they know, and vice versa – on February 23 women give presents to all the men that surround them.

Initially, Clara Zetkin, one of the founders of the German Communist Party, suggested to celebrate the International Women’s Day at the International Women’s Conference in Copenhagen in 1910. This holiday has always been highly regarded in Russia, and although it is called “international” it doesn’t really spread beyond the boundaries of the former USSR.

International Women’s Day is an official national holiday and a day off.