When Lithuania broke free of the Soviet Union, many of us began to look askance at International Women’s Day, as if it had been a purely Soviet holiday. But the truth is the origin of the holiday lies much deeper, reaching back even into antiquity.

There is evidence the women of ancient Greece demanded special attention from their husbands on a certain day. Even if they were at war, they had to stop and spend time with their wives.

The modern Women’s Day was the product of politics. In 1899 social democrat Klara Zetkin was one of the first to demand equal rights for men and women. In 1907 the first international women’s conference was held on her initiative in Stuttgart. That conference resolved to establish an international women’s organization to fight for equal rights for women.

A women’s conference was held in Copenhagen on March 8, 1910, with delegates from about 100 countries. Klara Zetkin proposed establishing one day of the year focusing on women’s struggle for freedom and equal rights. On March 8, 1911, International Women’s Day was marked for the first time in Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Australia. In some countries women avoided celebrating the day openly for fear of arrest by the police.

The Lithuanian Jewish Community wishes all its female members and women around the world a happy International Women’s Day!