International Women's Day (IWD) is marked every year on 8 March — in 2027 it falls on a Monday. But why that particular date? The answer goes back more than a century, to a women's strike in 1917 that helped topple an empire. Here is the real history behind the day.
See the holiday page for International Women's Day, or explore other global days on the world observances page.
Why is International Women's Day on March 8?
The date is tied to a specific historic event. On 8 March 1917 (23 February in the old Russian calendar), women textile workers in Petrograd (now St Petersburg), Russia went on strike for "bread and peace," protesting food shortages and the First World War. The strike grew into mass demonstrations that became a turning point in the Russian Revolution — and within days the Tsar abdicated.
To honour that moment, 8 March was later fixed as the international date.
The earlier origins
The idea of a women's day was already a few years old by 1917:
- 1908 — Around 15,000 women marched through New York City demanding shorter hours, better pay and voting rights.
- 1909 — The Socialist Party of America held the first National Woman's Day in the United States.
- 1910 — At an international conference of working women in Copenhagen, the German activist Clara Zetkin proposed an annual International Women's Day. The idea was agreed unanimously.
- 1911 — The first International Women's Day was marked on 19 March in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland, with over a million people attending rallies.
After the 1917 Russian strike, 8 March became the settled date worldwide.
How it became a global, official day
- The United Nations began marking International Women's Day in 1975, during International Women's Year.
- In 1977, the UN General Assembly invited all member states to proclaim a day for women's rights — cementing 8 March globally.
Today IWD is both a celebration of women's achievements and a call to action for gender equality, marked by events, campaigns and the year's official UN theme.
Is International Women's Day a public holiday?
In some countries, yes. 8 March is an official public holiday in nations including Russia, Ukraine, many Central Asian states, and others — where it is often a day of flowers and gifts. In much of the world it is widely observed but not a day off work. Check whether it's a holiday in your country on the calendar.
Quick answers
Why is International Women's Day on March 8? It commemorates the 8 March 1917 women's strike in Petrograd, Russia, which helped spark the Russian Revolution. The date was adopted internationally afterward.
Who started International Women's Day? The annual idea was proposed by Clara Zetkin in 1910; the 8 March date came from the 1917 Russian women's strike. The UN formalised it from 1975.
Is International Women's Day a public holiday? It is an official holiday in some countries (e.g. Russia and several Central Asian states) and widely observed elsewhere.
When is International Women's Day 2027? Monday, 8 March 2027 — it is always 8 March.