Revolutionary Dates: Traditions, Calendar Shifts, and Symbolic Celebra
The answer can be explained through the historical and cultural heritage of revolutionary events and the change of calendar systems, as well as by the choice of dates associated with ancient traditions and symbolism. For example, one source notes that "the tradition of celebrating Purim led to the establishment of the women's holiday on March 8... Thus, the Soviet congratulation on March 8 (as well as on February 23) is also a congratulation on 'liberation' from 'tsarism'" (source: link txt). In this way, establishing March 8 as a women's holiday is connected not only with the movement for women's rights but also with a reinterpretation of revolutionary events, which contributed to creating a separate celebration for women.Another source adds that historically the movement for women's rights was reflected in the choice of a date that had symbolic ties to the Purim festival: "…the feminist movement was not created overnight… but nevertheless, in 1910 at the 2nd International Conference of Socialist Women… it was declared a day of solidarity for all the women of the planet. They chose this date… the Jewish festival of Purim" (source: link txt). This choice underscores that the date of March 8 has deep cultural roots and is associated with ideas of solidarity and the struggle for women's rights.Moreover, yet another source explains that the difference in dates is largely related to the transition to a new calendar: "…it turns out that March 8 by the new style is February 23 by the old style. And here is the answer—why the 'male' day and the 'female' day are so close to each other. When the European brothers of the International celebrated 'March 8', in Russia that day was called February 23…" (source: link txt). This indicates that historically both holidays had a common revolutionary foundation, but the calendar change and established ideological beliefs led to the celebration being separated by gender.Thus, the traditional division of gifts—for women on March 8 and for men on February 23—has its roots in the process of revolutionary transformations, the change of calendar systems, and the cultural reinterpretation of traditional holidays, where each date acquired its symbolic meaning in the context of historical events and ideological commitments.