Women’s Day in the People’s Republic of Poland had two faces. It wasn’t just “kiss hands”, carnations and tights

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International Women’s Day on March 8 is a global day that celebrates women’s economic, political and social progress and highlights the steps that still need to be taken to achieve gender parity. In February 1909, the foundation was laid for International Women’s Day, organized in response to a large-scale strike by New York’s garment workers. They demanded better wages, shorter working hours, better working conditions and voting rights. Celebrations in Poland, however, come from a different tradition. They were inspired by women striking for the revolution in the first days of communism in Russia, and then moved to Poland when the country was still under Soviet influence. In Poland, the first Women’s Day was celebrated on March 24, 1924, but it became the most popular only in the times of the People’s Republic of Poland.

Women’s Day in the People’s Republic of Poland. “Worshiping women” was part of the propaganda

Throughout March 8, it was an obligatory holiday that emphasized the presence of women in public life. The political context was very visible and all the official channels urged men to celebrate women, making the celebration less sincere and spontaneous than it should have been. At that time, the party secretary visited factories and workplaces, wishing them well and posing for photographs. In the 1970s, flowers became one of the most fashionable gifts. they were made of red carnations as well as tulips. On the occasion of the holiday, portraits of women who actively participated in various sectors of economic life were also published. As Władysław Gomułka said:

There are no areas in which women do not play an important role in contemporary Poland.

The holiday was obligatory in schools and workplaces. It was an opportunity to make up for the shortage of supplies, which is why it was the most popular gifts were tights, towels, cloths, soap, chocolates and coffee. Everything “with receipt”. Many men also gave gifts to the women with cheers “kissing hands” by kissing them on the outside of the palm. In those days, it was an important element of etiquette. Women’s Day used to be a public holiday in Poland, but since 1993, under the rule of Hanna Suchocka, it was abolished and is no longer so.

For the health of beautiful ladies! In the People’s Republic of Poland, Women’s Day had two faces

In fact, in many circles, Women’s Day however, it was called “a drunken peasant’s day”. This was related to the experiences of many families related to this holiday. When alcoholism was a common problem, Women’s Day was another occasion to celebrate in a boozy way. In an interview with Jerzy Sosnowski, Krystyna Kofta pointed out that the celebrations related to the holiday in workplaces consisted of two parts.

During the official, with speeches, flowers were presented to women. During the informal, alcohol flowed and there were various excesses, as we would say today.