International Women’s Day in Kazakhstan

International Women’s Day in Kazakhstan, like in many post-Soviet countries, is a national public holiday celebrated annually on March 8th.

Originally, this day was rooted in the fight for women’s rights and equality, a movement that began in the West but now finds its strongest resonance in countries across Europe and Asia, particularly those that were part of the Soviet Union. While Western countries mark it as the International Day for Women’s Rights and International Peace in line with a United Nations resolution, the significance of the holiday in post-Soviet regions is much more profound and widely observed.

The origins of International Women’s Day trace back to the late 19th century, when women in the West began campaigning for equal rights and greater freedoms. One pivotal moment occurred on March 8, 1908, when over 15,000 women marched through the streets of New York, demanding better working conditions, equal pay, and the end of child labor. A key element of the protest was also advocating for women’s suffrage. Two years later, at an international conference in Copenhagen, Clara Zetkin proposed the establishment of a designated day for women to unite and draw attention to their struggles through rallies and demonstrations.

The first official celebration of International Women’s Day took place on March 19, 1911, in Germany, Austria, Denmark, and Switzerland. Throughout the 1910s, the holiday was marked in various nations on different dates in March, but as time passed, the observance lost momentum in many parts of the world. However, in the USSR, it remained significant, and in 1966, it was officially recognized as a national holiday, complete with a day off from work.

In Kazakhstan today, International Women’s Day is celebrated much like in other post-Soviet countries. The day has shed its original political undertones and is now primarily a celebration of women’s beauty, kindness, and contributions to society. Special events are organized to honor women’s achievements, and the government acknowledges mothers with large families and successful women in the workplace with state awards. Across the country, women are treated to thoughtful gestures, gifts, and celebrations at home, school, and in the workplace, while performances and gatherings further enhance the festive atmosphere.