International Women's Day

International Women's Day
Originally uploaded by Krista 1366.

Yes, today is International Women's Day. A holiday celebrated all over the world, though I cannot really say I remember marking its importance in the US of A. What is Women's Day? Well I can assure you it is not Mother's day. It is a Feminist/Socialist/Communist celebration founded at the turn of the 20th century. It celebrates women's achievements and how far we still need to go to be on even footing with men. Though, I think Western women have it pretty good. We participate fully in life and have so many choices some us choose them all and become super women. But, I digress. Click here and you can read all about International Women's Day yourself.

In Italy, Women's Day means you see mimosa blooming all over town and to mark the day, bunches of the yellow flowers are traditionally given away to women. Posters for traveling male dance reviews (not the ballet, but strippers - think Chippendales) announcing their arrival and times of the shows. It is sort of a tradition amongst women my age to go to these shows. A sort of we can let loose and objectify the opposite sex too. Amnesty International had a stand set up today in one of the main piazzas in town. Best of all, the pasticcerie (bakeries) had yummy sweets for the giving and eating in their windows.

Me, I am indifferent to the whole thing. I don't need to go see naked men dancing, to feel like a woman, besides, they are most likely gay anyway. Isn't it enough I am married? I learned a long time ago that looking at a naked man is not the road to fulfillment. Certainly, I do not need to eat sweets to feel happy, they only serve to make me fat and unhappy. Flowers, hmm, I would enjoy being given those, but, you could do that any day you like and I like something more than mimosa branches. I asked Sarah what she thought of the whole thing. Rather intelligently she replied, "I don't have to behave like a man to be a women". She might be on to something. Me, I will stick with celebrating Mother's Day. I think I earned it.

Cheers,

Krista