1. How did it all start?
Like May 1, March 8 grew out of the labor movement and has American roots.

In 1908, 15,000 women in New York demonstrated for shorter hours, higher wages, and the right to vote (in most states, women gained it in 1920, when the 19th Amendment to the US Constitution was passed). The following year, the American Socialist Party proposed that the last Sunday in February be Labor Women's Day.

In August 1910, the well-known figure of the German social democracy Clara Zetkin at a conference in Copenhagen proposed to establish an International Day for the Struggle for Women's Equality and Emancipation.

About a hundred participants from 17 countries supported the idea unanimously.
2. Why March 8?
The demonstration in New York that started it all took place on 28 February. Clara Zetkin did not name a specific date. The first Women's Day celebration in Germany took place on March 19 to commemorate the March Revolution of 1848 in Prussia. Then Women's Day in different countries was celebrated on March 2, 9 and 12, as well as on May 2 and 12.
3. Does March 8 have its own colors?
These are purple (or magenta), green and white.

They were proposed as a symbol of the struggle for equality by the British Women's Social and Political Union in 1908. Purple stands for justice and dignity, green for hope, and white for purity.
4. Is there an International Men's Day?
Yes, it is celebrated on November 19 in more than 80 countries, including the United Kingdom, although it does not have formal UN recognition. The emphasis is on strengthening the health of men and their modern role in the family.
5. How is March 8 celebrated in different countries?
In China, the working day for women lasts four hours instead of eight, but this recommendation of the PRC State Council is not a law, and some employers do not follow it.

In Italy, mimosa flowers are given to women on March 8. This custom originated in Rome shortly after World War II, its source is unknown.

In the United States, March is Women's History Month. Each year, the president issues a statement recognizing the accomplishments and contributions of American women.
6. Celebration or protest?
The organizers of the celebration of International Women's Day in 2021 have chosen the hashtag #ChooseToChallenge ("Choose a challenge") as the motto for it. The main idea is that the world throws challenges to a person, and everyone is personally responsible for their choice.