Women’s Day and Mother’s Day
In March, there are two holidays in Slovenia, dedicated to girls, wives and mothers.
Women’s Day is an international festival of women, which is celebrated every year on 8 March. This day celebrates women’s achievements and their economic, political and social equality. It is dedicated to all women.
Mother’s Day is an informal holiday dedicated to mothers. The celebration of motherhood comes from the U.S., where it has been celebrated since 1910. Mother’s Day in Europe began to be celebrated after the First World War, but on different dates. It was originally fixed on 15 May, then moved to 25 March. In Slovenia, after the Second World War Mother’s Day was mostly not celebrated, due to Women’s Day on 8 March, which was celebrated as a rule. But today it is again in force and is celebrated on the same day as the feast of the Annunciation, on 25 March.
Our Comenius project classes worked on both holidays and our little artists prepared some nice surprises for their mothers.
- Marija organized workshops, where her pupils in the afternoon care produced flowers out of crepe paper. Women from Moravče handicraft section joined and helped children to produce beautiful red carnations. Why carnations? A carnation is a national Slovenian flower. It’s a national symbol, praised in many folk songs and as a decoration it can be seen everywhere: on furniture, clothing, decorative goods etc. It is also a part of Slovenian national costume and still today worn on May Day and other folk festivals.
Our pupils gave their carnations to their mothers for the Mother’s Day.
- Little Blažka, with the help of her mother Andreja, prepared a surprise for her school friends in the afternoon care. They created very special greeting cards with pupils’ faces and gave them to their mothers for the Mother’s Day.
- On this day, their teacher Marija also organized a performance for the parents, where the children presented three short plays.
- On the Mother’s Day there is an annual hike to the nearby hill Limbarska gora, on which people from all over Slovenia take part. All women who reach the top, get a red carnation. See a photo of Marija, who was also there this year.
(C) Andreja Vavpetič & Zdenka Wicher
