Happy International Women’s Day

Apparently, In ancient Roman times, March 8 was one of the first of the springtime fests and a day that was sacred to Ariadne, whom Theseus had abandoned on the Island of Naxos after promising to marry her if she helped him slay her father’s pet Minotaur. Poor, poor Ariadne, seduced and abandoned, became a prototype for ancient Mediterranean womanhood. She later married Bacchus, but that was a whole new adventure.

However…in 1945 when “the powers that be” chose the date of March 8, they weren’ t thinking of Ariadne. In fact they were memorializing two events outside of Italy: a March 8, 1857, strike by women garment workers in New York (GO USA! Rah Rah!!), which led to the formation two years later of the first women’s union in the United States, and a strike by Russian women calling for “bread and peace” on March 8, 1917. Whew – that is better…I would so hate for “Our Day” to be dedicated to a poor ole lass who was left at the alter…or in the labyrinth…I can’t remember…

Anyway, on this day, men give the women in their lives sprigs of bright yellow Mimosa flowers. Women can also give them to each other. I didn’t get any mimosa flowers today. And, I was bummed. But – Peppe’s dad tried to buy me some pastries for the celebration (he seizes the opportunity to buy pastries every-chance-he-gets…), and Peppe offered to buy me something new for my bedroom…so, I guess I still came out on top!

Also on this day, and apparently in southern Italy, only on this day, the women head out in groups, men-less, for some good old-fashioned female fun. But, seeing how I am surrounded by as much testosterone as a WWF wrestler on Super Bowl Sunday – I am staying in. I do, however, plan on celebrating this weekend. My internet pals Sognatrice and Aurora are trainin’ it on over to Catanzaro and we are going to celebrate International Women’s Day American-style…I can hardly wait.