The mimosa is the symbol of Women's Day in Italy
March 8th is the Festa della Donna – Womens’ day. For the 2012 edition, women are welcome in Italian state museums for FREE! So ladies, plan to attend a museum on this day! The initiative by the ministry of Culture is intended to promote knowledge of the role of women in art on this important international day of remembrance.
About International Women’s Day
International Women’s Day (8 March) 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, International Women’s Day is a national holiday. 2011 marks the centennial celebration: in 1911, a woman named Clara Zetkin (Leader of the ‘Women’s Office’ for the Social Democratic Party in Germany) launched the first womens’ day at which the main issues were the vote and work for women. Each year there is a global theme supported by the United Nations, although each country may also suggest its own theme. The 2011 global theme is “equal access to education, training, science and technology”.
In Italy, womens’ rights organizations were politically organized in 1944 and the first “Festa della Donna” was celebrated in the “free Italy” in 1945. The following year the mimosa tree became the symbol of this holiday. The mimosa is a tree that has marvellous yellow flowers in late February and Early March. An excellent allergen (!), pieces of it are given to women in Italy on this day.
Italy Museums on March 8
In Tuscany, there are more state museums than can be listed here but as you know, the most famous ones included in this offer are the Uffizi, the Accademia, the Bargello, the Medici Chapels, the Archaeology museums of Florence and Grosseto, and much more. Special events will also be held on this day and are listed on the MIBAC website (which I expect will be updated closer to the date).
If you’re interested in women in art, how about taking a look at the National Museum of Women in the Arts’s page about 16th and 17th century female artists?
