International Women's Day falls on March 8th every year and is one of the most important holidays celebrated around the world. It is a day when we remember the fight for women's equality, their rights and their contribution to society. Its history dates back to the beginning of the 20th century. The first celebration of Women's Day was allegedly organized by the American Socialist Party on February 28, 1909 in New York. The proposal to make it an international event came from the German socialist, founder of the working women's movement and defender of women's rights Clara Zetkin. In 1910, she presented it at the International Conference of Working Women in Copenhagen, where it was unanimously adopted. The first International Women's Day was celebrated in 1911 in Austria, Denmark, Germany, Switzerland and the USA, but a fixed date had not yet been set. The date of March 8 was established only after World War I (1921) and has been officially celebrated worldwide since 1975, when it was recognized by the United Nations, as a commemoration of the anniversary of the strike of New York seamstresses who took to the streets in 1908 to fight for their rights. The original basic idea was civil and political equality between men and women, the involvement of women in decision-making processes, the introduction of women's suffrage and the elimination of gender discrimination. International Women's Day is celebrated in more than 100 countries around the world, in some states it is even a national holiday. In Western countries, it is commemorated more in the form of various social events and demonstrations for women's rights.

In the former Czechoslovakia, International Women's Day was first celebrated in 1921, but it gained real significance only after World War II. During the communist regime, it became one of the most important national holidays and was celebrated very ostentatiously. Red carnations, chocolate boxes and television variety shows became the symbols of this holiday. Official, exuberant corporate celebrations were held, where tables swayed under mayonnaise sandwiches and alcohol flowed freely. According to some witnesses, it was often more of a holiday for men, and for some it was even quite demanding, as they returned home late, quite socially tired. After 1989, its popularity declined because it was perceived as ideologically colored, but now International Women's Day is also shedding the alcohol and carnation haze associated with propaganda from the times of totalitarianism and its importance is returning. Instead of large official celebrations, it is seen more as a private opportunity to show respect, love and gratitude to women, for example with a small gift and a flower. Men today give red carnations more out of a sense of humor. However you celebrate this day, don't forget to show respect, love and gratitude to the women around you, because every woman certainly deserves it...

Hopefully, no one will be offended by our today's selection of drawings by the Telč painter, graphic artist and caricaturist Antonín Václav Slavíček (January 2, 1895, Rozseč – October 27, 1938, Zlín), because we have decided to approach the celebration of this women's day with some perspective... We can probably speak for most women who would like to "switch off" for a while on this occasion and be able to take a break from everyday duties, worries, caring for their loved ones and properly enjoy, for example, meeting their friends.

Jana Bojanovská, March 8, 2025