It's been a while since we had a Bougie Cocktail Moment. But go ahead and raise them up. Today is International Women's Day.
International Women's Day (March 8) is a global day celebrating the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future. In some places like China, Russia, Vietnam and Bulgaria, IWD is a national holiday. Women's Day was first celebrated in the United States in 1909. Two years later, more than 1 million people attended events in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland during the first International Women's Day.
During International Women's Year in 1975, IWD was given official recognition by the United Nations and was taken up by many governments. International Women's Day is marked by a national holiday in China, Armenia, Russia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Vietnam.
This year, World leaders and international organizations are calling for more rights and opportunities for women in order to help solve many of the world's problems. The calls come as many parts of the world mark International Women's Day on Monday.
U.S. President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama are hosting a reception at the White House Monday to mark the occasion.
The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe said Monday that peace and stability "can only be achieved with the participation of women as equal partners with men." At an event last week, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said the world body's goals "stand in jeopardy" because women are still subject to poverty and discrimination.
To find out about events in your area: click here. I'm headed to a chat about the role of Women in Media & Publishing. You can rest assured, I'm going all IN. Later in the week, look for a quiz to test your knowledge on Women's History. In the meantime, raise your glass up and toast a lady today. In the comments, feel free to shout out your favorite female. For those of you interested, the cocktail recipe is embedded below. Enjoy the day!
