VIDEO: Police Officers and Firefighters Handing Out Flowers to Women in Yerevan on International Women’s Day, March 8

On March 8, Armenia celebrates International Women’s Day. Police officers and firefighters in Yerevan were seen on the streets stopping female drivers to hand out flowers while firefighters were climbing down buildings to give flowers to women through windows.

Armenia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs shared the video with the public congratulating women on their day.  

“This spring holiday is a unique opportunity to once again appreciate and value your unique place and role in family happiness, development of our country, strengthening of statehood and public solidarity. May the mood and smile of this symbolic and bright holiday, the abundance of spring colors accompany you all days of the year,” wrote the Ministry. 

History of International Women’s Day:

When women gained suffrage in Soviet Russia in 1917, March 8 became a national holiday there. But Soviet Armenia officially began celebrating March 8 in 1921.

After Armenia’s Independence in 1991, there were attempts to remove March 8 from the list of holidays and instead create a new one on April 7, Day of Mothers and Beauty. But March 8 had such deep roots in Armenia’s culture that it remained.

March 8 was predominantly celebrated by the socialist movement and communist countries until it was adopted by the feminist movement in about 1967. Commemoration of International Women's Day today ranges from being a public holiday in some countries to being largely ignored elsewhere. In some places, it is a day of protest; in others, it is a day that celebrates womanhood.

Happy International Women’s Day especially to the mothers, wives, daughters, and sisters of the war heroes who gave up their lives for the homeland.