Turkmenistan’s women, regardless of age, receive monetary gifts every year, according to the Decree of the President of Turkmenistan dated February 27, 2019, "On presenting monetary gifts to women of our country on the occasion of International Women's Day".
This year, according to the Order of the head of state Serdar Berdimuhamedov, every working woman or recipient of benefits in the country will receive these monetary gifts. This gesture emphasizes respect for women, their role in preserving and enhancing the cultural heritage of the nation, their achievements in the past and present, and their contribution to upholding traditional family values.
On March 8, our mothers, grandmothers, sisters, wives and daughters receive congratulations, while men try to take on household responsibilities. International Women's Day was added to Turkmenistan's list of state holidays in 2008. Traditionally, women are honored for their achievements in science, culture, medicine and education.
The secular and cultural life of the capital is enriched with performances by creative groups and pop artists. Museums and libraries host thematic exhibitions, and sales and fairs are organized in the trade sector. The history of March 8 as a holiday dates back to 1908 when textile workers in New York marched through the streets with "empty pots." They demanded better working conditions, shorter working hours, higher wages, voting rights, and equality with men.
However, the official annual celebration of International Women's Day began with a socialist women's conference held in Copenhagen in 1910. The idea to establish the holiday was proposed by Clara Zetkin—a reformer who played a significant role in shaping the European women's rights movement. Thus, this year marks 115 years since the inception of this women's holiday. Subsequent events related to women's rights were held starting in 1911 in Germany, Austria, Denmark, and Switzerland. In 1913, women held rallies for the first time in Russia, France, Czech Republic, Hungary, Switzerland, and the Netherlands.
In its early years, the holiday was celebrated on different dates in March. However, in 1977, the UN General Assembly officially established March 8 as International Women's Day to advocate for women's rights. Since then, the ideological component of the holiday has taken a backseat, and March 8 has become associated simply as a women’s holiday.
