Personal March 8th

The first and only time I celebrated International Women’s Day in-person was on my Third Trip to Russia (my first time Living in Russia and the first time I was in Russia in March.)

I wasn’t in Russia in March in the 4 other times I was in Russia but I still sent Gifts and Flowers to my Girlfriend, her Mom and a few of my Russian Female Friends (through Online Websites.)

I remember having to go out and buy lots of Gifts and Flowers (at Double Marked-Up Prices since it was a Holiday and I was a Foreigner.)

That first International Women’s Day I bought Gifts and Flowers for my 4 Russian Teachers and the Female Secretary (I was studying by myself so didn’t have any Female Students to also buy for) as well as my Girlfriend and her Mother.

I also bought a Gift and Flowers for the Female Woman in charge of the Men’s Locker Room at the Indoor Swimming Pool and Gym I went to and had become Friends with.

Russians (like many Europeans) give Flowers in odd numbers (even numbers are bad luck) and I couldn’t get over the American idea of not buying a dozen (12) Flowers and so made the Florist handmake 8 bouquets with 12 flowers each (and getting lots of questionable stares from her as she did it.)

The 8 Flower Bouquets alone cost me $592 US Dollars - I paid for them in Russian Rubles of course. (Keep in mind the Average Russian only made $118.75 US Dollars a month then.

That doesn’t include the Gifts I also bought everyone.

On International Women’s Day I went with my Girlfriend and her Mom to a Former Pioneer Communist Youth Camp outside of Yaroslavl where there were outdoor celebrations (for Women’s Day as well as Saying Good-Bye to Winter – which is a tradition taken from Russian Pagans.)

They had a Peasant-Looking Mother Winter that they then burned.