Bulgaria celebrates the International Women's Day

On 8th of March, Bulgaria marks the International Women's Day. Started as a political event of the Socialists, the holiday gradually became part of the culture of many countries.

It was first celebrated on 23rd of February, 1909 at the initiative of the American Socialist Party. The day is also associated with the first mass manifestation of female workers held on 8th of March, 1857 in New York. Today, the holiday is a day of international recognition of the economic, political and social achievements and rights of women.

In many countries, including Bulgaria, March 8 is also celebrated as Mother's Day.

The first women’s association in Bulgaria was founded in 1857 in the town of Lom. Its founders included Elenka Tsenko Todorova, Angelina Krustyo Pishurka, Stefania Kosta Stamenova, Maria Tsono Ivanova and others.

Initially, from 1911 the holiday was celebrated with talks in small groups, and in 1915 the first public celebration was held.

March 8 has been celebrated as a nationwide Bulgarian holiday since the middle of the 20th century. The first woman doctor in Bulgaria - Dr. Tota Venkova - graduated in 1886. She not only worked in an era when it was unthinkable for a woman to do so, but also paved the way for all women after her who dreamed of an education, a profession, a place and recognition in society.

Raina Kasabova went down in history and statistics as the first woman in the world to complete a mission from aboard a combat aircraft. She was only 15 years old when on December 30, 1912, during the Balkan War, she flew as an observer pilot over Adrianople and flew the call to end hostilities.

Images by Dessislava Kulelieva