International Women’s Day has long been observed in many countries around the world, starting with the US in 1909, and its official description is “a collective day of global celebration and a call for gender parity”.
International Women’s Day was first recognised in Italy in 1922, to honour the past struggles and victories of women working towards economic, political and social equality.
It also serves as a stark reminder of how much more progress needs to be made to secure equality for women and eliminate gender-based violence and discrimination in Italy.
To mark International Women’s Day, Italian men bring flowers to all of the women in their lives, from mothers to lovers.
For decades, the mimosa flower – a native Australian shrub also known as wattle – has been the unofficial symbol for this day in Italy.
If you are in Italy from mid-February to March and beyond, you will find tall mimosa trees coming back to life with glorious fluffy flowers and filling the air with their delicate and distinctive perfume.
Come March 8, you will hardly find an Italian family without a few sprigs of mimosa in their home.
Fathers, sons, husbands and boyfriends gift women with these yellow flowers on the day as a sign of love and appreciation, while vendors can be found on every corner selling them.
Nowadays, women also hand the flowers to other women as an expression of solidarity.
It is not unheard of for the woman sitting behind the counter of the local post office or at the supermarket checkout to be given sprigs of mimosa by female customers as a sign of respect.
But how did the floral emblem of Australia – two different species of wattle enjoy top billing on our coat of arms and the $5 bill – come to pepper the Italian landscape?
There are almost 1000 varieties of wattle in Australia, growing wild in all sorts of climates.
It first ventured outside Australia when seeds were transported to England from 1780 on, and cultivated in the Royal Botanic Gardens in the south-west London suburb of Kew.
Ornamental varieties later sent to the south of France and the great palazzi of Rome proved to be popular.
It’s not only wattle which symbolises International Women’s Day in Italy: the flower also inspires a cake which is baked and enjoyed on the day.
The torta mimosa is made from pan di Spagna or sponge cake and topped with panna montata (whipped cream) and crema pasticciera (pastry cream).
Its yellow hue and fluffy texture are reminiscent of the bright blossoms that symbolise this important day for women in Italy.
But why the mimosa?
Unlike other flowers traditionally given to women – like roses and lilies – a spray of wattle can be divided up almost infinitely and still be whole, symbolising the many parts of every woman that she gives to others.
The second reason is that mimosa is a spontaneous plant, one that naturally grows and flourishes in Italy.
This symbolises the aim of making the world a place where women can also prosper, without having to fight for it.
In addition, while wattle looks delicate, it is extremely strong and resilient – much like the women it is gifted to!
Aside from exchanging blooms of mimosa, Italians also celebrate International Women’s Day through food, art and culture.
Restaurants have special Festa della Donna meals and aperitivi, while there are often small local festivals or concerts, such as the women’s boat race and a parade of gondolas decorated with mimosa flowers in Venice.
Women often dine out with fellow female friends, families or significant others on the evening of March 8.
Selected museums and sites offer free or reduced admission for women, while clinics and doctors’ offices have been known to provide free gynaecological check-ups and other exams related to women’s health.
Some feminist movements complain that the day has become too commercial and has lost its political ideology.
However, most people would argue in favour of this official day when women can come together and celebrate their gender, welcoming the men in their lives offering them a sweet-smelling mimosa.
