The entire beautiful half of humanity looks forward to March 8 all year. International Women's Day is one of the most beloved holidays. At first, March 8 had a strong political overtones, since the special date was designated not for celebrations, but for the fight for equality. The history of the holiday dates back to 1857, when the famous “March of the Empty Pots”, the first women's strike, took place in America. Then strikes broke out again, spontaneously. And then Clara Zetkin, at a congress in Copenhagen, put forward a proposal to declare March 8th International Women’s Day, so that all women on the planet who zealously stand up for their rights could be legally heard on this day. Since then, the name of Clara Zetkin has been inextricably linked with the holiday of spring and beauty, despite the strong politicization of the chosen date. The proposal received unanimous support from more than 100 women from 17 countries, but the date of the holiday was not fixed. Until 1914, this day was celebrated in different countries on different dates in March: • On March 19, 1911, it was first celebrated in Germany, Austria, Denmark and Switzerland (in 1912, this day was celebrated in these same countries on May 12) • March 2, 1913 In 2009, women took to rallies for the first time in France and Russia; On March 9, 1913, demonstrations took place in Austria, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Holland and Switzerland, and on March 12 in Germany. But, the church is absolutely sure that the holiday of a revolutionary woman is not needed in our country, where the church was oppressed, if not completely crushed, by scientific atheism. The church put forward the idea of ​​celebrating Women's Day in the third week of Easter, however, March 8 still stood. And in 1966, by the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, the date became officially confirmed and acquired the state status of a “weekend” day. And after the collapse of the UNION, March 8 remained among the official ones. Not every holiday has retained such privileges, however, International Women's Day has endured, as if to confirm the glory of women's resilience and strength. Today, few people remember and reflect on the origin of the holiday and its rich history. On March 8, the world turns into a fragrant garden, as every man strives to bestow his beloved with a bouquet of flowers, gifts and warm words. It is customary for work teams to organize corporate parties on this day, set tables and congratulate beautiful ladies on the holiday of Spring, Beauty and Tenderness. Management usually issues bonuses for the heroes of the occasion. Almost all cities are preparing festive events, concerts, performances, exhibitions, sales, and promotions. Congratulations, favorite songs and films, interviews with famous women and top officials of the state are constantly heard on radio and television. The political meaning of the holiday has long ago exhausted itself, however, and today there are feminist groups and detachments that organize various kinds of demonstrations and processions on March 8, trying to attract attention to themselves in order to publicly declare their problems. Most women prefer to spend the holiday with their family, exchanging congratulations with each other, basking in the tenderness of men who on this day make a lot of effort to become an ideal husband, father, son, brother, even for a day.

Women create organizations that fight for peace and freedom (WILPF), gender equality (National Organization for Women), environmental protection (Women’s Environment and Development Organization) and other values ​​at the global level. Representatives of the fair half of humanity unite into communities not only on the basis of ideology, but also on a professional basis. March 8 is widely celebrated as International Women's Brewing Day. It is celebrated by representatives of the food industry involved in the production of the foamy drink. International Women's Collaboration Brew Day (IWCBD) appeared on the calendar of special days on the initiative of Sophie de Ronde from the VENUS organization relatively recently - in 2014. The British woman presented this holiday to the public as a method of combating gender inequality and sexism in the traditionally male field of activity - brewing , “which is currently dominated by white bearded hipster men.” Sophie de Ronde turned to the Pink Boots Society for support. This US non-profit organization, whose name translates as the “Pink Boots Society”, which represents the interests of women working in the brewing industry, approved the British initiative. Therefore, on March 8, 2014, the first event in honor of International Women`s Collaboration Brew Day was held. The idea of ​​the holiday was supported by 60 female brewers from 5 countries. In honor of the special day, they prepared a foamy drink called Unite pale ale. In 2015, 80 women from 11 countries took part in a similar event. They made an ale using the Unite red ale recipe. Every year, in honor of Brew Day, a new type of beer is brewed, which is either a popular type or, on the contrary, experimental. In 2017, 190 people working in this industry already took part in the action. The number of people wishing to join the celebration is growing year by year. The purpose of the events held on March 8 is not just communication between professionals and raising the level of their masters. The foamy drink brewed on this day goes on sale a few weeks after preparation. The money raised from its sale goes to support the Pink Boots Society and regional industry organizations. The Pink Boots Society uses proceeds from the event to fund scholarships for scientists studying “alternative microbes for use in brewing science.” Since 2020, funds have gone to help black female students. Historically, the English word for female brewers was brewster. It fell into disuse because over time the profession became exclusively male. The International Women`s Collaboration Brew Day is designed to correct the situation and draw attention to the fact that many women brewers are successfully and productively working in this industry. And they have the right to their own professional holiday, which they celebrate annually on March 8th.

A Tajik woman is traditionally compared to a tree trunk, which means inner stamina, endurance and courage. At the same time, she has a gentle soul and a kind heart, like the heroine of the Persian epic Leili. In Tajikistan, men show respect to the fair half of humanity and try to surround them with care and attention.

All followers of Shaivism, especially yogis and tantrics, invariably celebrate one of the most important Vedic holidays, Maha Shivaratri - the Great Night of Shiva. This celebration falls in the month of Maga and is celebrated on the fourteenth day of Chaturdashi Krishna Paksha. According to Indian scriptures, or rather the Skanda Purana, there are four types of Shivaratri: • Daily Shivaratri (Nitya Shivaratri), which is celebrated every night.• Monthly Shivaratri (Masa Shivaratri), which is observed on the day of Chaturdashi (fourteenth lunar day) of Krishna Paksha (waning phase of the Moon).• Magha-Pratham-Adi Shivaratri, observed by the followers Givaism during the first thirteen days of the month of Maga.• Maha Shivaratri observed on Chaturdashi (fourteenth lunar day) of Krishna Paksha (waning phase of the Moon). Throughout this night, believers pay homage to the supreme deity. According to ancient legends, the supreme deity Shiva performed the dance of the original creation, preservation and destruction of all things - tandava. Tantrics and yogis believe in two main manifestations: Shiva as the Father of the World and Shahti as the Mother of the World. They unite them into a single and inseparable whole. Thus, these are not two different deities, but the One Lord and His Power. Devotees of the teachings of Shaivism convert throughout the night of Shivaratri through the Abisheku ritual. The basis of this treatment is the repetition of mantras and the performance of other ritual actions. Their beginning coincides with sunset. On this night, followers of the teaching hold four lujas, which are dedicated to the four different manifestations and aspects of Shiva. This allows them to embrace the various moods of worship (Vedic and Tantric), as well as the veneration of the One Lord himself, the various stages of spiritual exaltation and the transitions from one anchara to the next that God makes on his path of Shiva-realization. The rituals of honoring the One Lord vary somewhat depending on the specific Indian locality. The main celebrations of Maha Shivaratri are held in the holy city of God Shiv - Varanasi (Kashi) and Kashmir, the area where the worship of Shiva is most strongly developed.

Holidays in Syria - Revolution Day March 8th in Syria (Revolution Day)

According to the folk calendar, Polikarpov's Day is celebrated on March 8 (February 23, old style). The day took its name from the church calendar on the day of honoring the memory of St. Polycarp of Smyrna, who became a Christian bishop in the 1st century. The orphan Polycarp was adopted by a righteous woman, raising him faithful to Christ. After her death, the young man distributed the inheritance to the poor, and he himself went to serve in the temple. First he received the rank of presbyter, then bishop of Smyrna. Polycarp zealously cared for his flock, guiding them on the true path. During the persecution of Christians, the bishop showed courage - he courageously went out to meet the persecutors who executed him. Around Polikarpov's Day, people were preparing for the onset of Maslenitsa. The wedding period was coming to an end, so unmarried and unengaged girls walked around upset. That’s why the day was called “sour girls.” People who did not marry for a long time were considered almost outcasts; on the one hand, they were pitied, and on the other, they were neglected. On Polikarpov's Day, such girls hid their outfits until the onset of summer, but did not miss the opportunity to tell fortunes for their betrothed. They secretly swept garbage into the home, reading conspiracies to attract suitors. They spun on the heel of their right foot on the street under the moon, so that the grooms would also twirl. In the morning they put out sour dough for pies, baked pies in the afternoon, and in the evening they took the baked pies to their girlfriends and exchanged them, believing that someone else’s treat would lead to marriage. If the moon waned in the sky, healers performed a ritual on clean skin. To do this, the girls brought 8 icicles to the prophetess's house. During their melting, a special spell was read, and after that the girls washed themselves with melt water. To determine the final melting of snow in the fields, peasants performed fortune telling with straw. One straw was placed on a snowdrift and if it fell down, the snow would completely melt off within a month. By watching the magpies on Polikarpov's day, they determined the coming weather: if they hid under the roof, the residents prepared for heavy snowfall, headed into the forest and waited for the arrival of warmth. The singing of a finch foreshadowed a light frost. Fast-moving clouds in the sky heralded the onset of warm days. Heavy fog promised a damp summer.

Orthodox holidays on March 8:

The Orthodox Church celebrates the Day of Remembrance of the Hieromartyr Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna on March 8. The bishop lived during the time of the first apostles and was the successor of their deeds. The martyrdom of the saint, described by his disciples, became the first death of an apostolic husband recorded in writing. As a child, Polycarp was adopted by a noble, pious woman who had a large estate and many servants. The boy was brought up in the ideals of the Christian faith, and was kind and merciful to the poor. Once, when his adoptive mother was away, the grown-up Polycarp remained to manage the affairs of the estate, but gradually distributed all the supplies from his mother’s estate. When the woman returned, she was met by a servant with a complaint that her adopted son had emptied all the goods she had stored. But the bins turned out to be full even beyond measure, so the Lord showed his mercy to the kind and pious young man. After the death of his adoptive mother, Polycarp renounced wealth and began to serve people himself, leading a humble and chaste life. His virtuous act was noticed by Bishop Vukol, who called the young man to serve in the temple. There, Polycarp had the good fortune to approach the Apostle John the Theologian, who was still alive at that time. The holy men followed together on their apostolic journeys. After the death of Vukol, Polycarp becomes bishop of the See of Smyrna. His successes in the rank of bishop were so significant that his followers called their bishop “the father of all Christians,” and his enemies “the seducer of Asia” for converting many pagans to the faith of Christ. The successes of the first Christian men, in addition to admiration, caused much indignation among the pagans. When persecution of Christians began in Rome, the pagans of Smyrna demanded the arrest of the bishop and his trial. Polycarp came out with greetings to the people who had come to take him into custody, hospitably inviting them into the house and offering them refreshments. He himself went away to pray, knowing what terrible torment was in store for him. The court sentenced the Bishop of Smyrna to death by burning. The executioners tried to nail him to a stake, but Polycarp, considering himself unworthy to receive wounds like Christ’s, humbly promised that he would not run away from the fire. When the fire was lit, the Lord showed his miracle to everyone present; the holy martyr stood in the middle of the fire, but the flames did not touch him. Then the pagans pierced the man sentenced to death with a sword, copious blood gushed from the wound of the holy man, extinguishing the flame. The bishop's body was burned, but faithful followers of the Christian faith collected the ashes and remains of the saint with sorrow and respect in their hearts. Folk signs associated Polycarp's day with the possible return of frosts and cold weather; it was believed that winter was again taking over. There were other signs that made it possible to predict the weather: - thick fog indicated the coming stormy summer; - if a straw thrown into the snow fell into a snowdrift, the snow will certainly melt in a month; - the cattle lay down on the ground, which means they sensed an imminent blizzard; - loud singing of birds means quick warmth, but the peck of a woodpecker foreshadowed a prolonged cold spring; the cries of finches promised frosts.

In 1881 (according to other sources, 1885) in the village of Sebino (Tula region, Russia), Saint Matrona was born into the family of Dmitry and Natalia Nikonov. In a poor family, the girl was the fourth child. When her mother was pregnant, she had a dream about a beautiful white bird, but with closed eyelids. This is exactly how Matrona was born - a small miracle, deprived of vision due to the absence of eyeballs. At first, the parents of the blind child wanted to give her up and send her to an orphanage, but changed their minds. As a child, the neighborhood children did not want to play with Matrona and teased her. The girl chose the icons located in her parents’ corner as her friends, played with them and was imbued with deep faith in the Lord. From infancy, a pectoral cross protruded from her chest, which testified to her being chosen by God. From the age of eight, Matrona received from the Almighty the gift of foresight and miracles. Notified of approaching troubles, predicted the future. She could heal seriously ill people through prayer. Then believers flocked to her house, asking for help in healing. For her good deeds, they left her food and other gifts in gratitude. So the child, who was a burden to the family, became its breadwinner. By the age of eighteen, the girl lost the ability to move - her legs refused to walk. When Matrona met Lydia Yankova, the daughter of a noble landowner, she began traveling with her to holy places. In 1925, she moved with Lydia to live in Moscow. There the women lived and changed places of residence, as the authorities began an atheistic policy and tried in every possible way to arrest the blind woman. Until the end of their days, people came to Matrona for healing; there were up to forty parishioners a day. The healer did not complain about her illnesses, did not ask people for anything, only one thing - to believe in the Lord, because it is not she who heals the sick, but God himself at her request. The saint also instructed parishioners on the righteous path in order to avoid sinful deeds and vices. Her life was held up as an example of a great feat of patience, dedication, faith, love and mercy towards others. Three days before her death, Matrona notified those around her about this event and called the saint to confession. On May 2, 1952, the saint gave her soul to the Lord. She was buried at the Moscow Danilovsky cemetery, where the saint’s relics were visited by thousands of pilgrims. On March 8, 1998, the relics of Matrona were discovered. Their final transfer took place in the same year on May 1 to the women's Holy Intercession Monastery in Moscow. Today, the relics of the saint continue to exude healing for various ailments.

Feast of the Icon of the Mother of God Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary “Sokolskaya”