三八妇女节即国际妇女节(International Women's Day，简写IWD)全称“联合国妇女权益和国际和平日”(United Nations women's rights and international peace day)，在中国又称“国际劳动妇女节”、“三八节”和“三八妇女节”。是在每年的3月8日为庆祝妇女在经济、政治和社会等领域做出的重要贡献和取得的巨大成就而设立的节日。

　　It’s difficult to say exactly when IWD (International Women's Day) began. Its roots can be traced to 1908, when 15,000 women marched through New York City demanding voting rights, better pay and shorter working hours.

　　很难确切说出国际妇女节是从何时开始的，它的起源可以追溯到1908年，当时15000名妇女在纽约市游行，要求投票权、加薪和缩短工时。

　　A year later, the first National Woman’s Day was observed in the US on February 28, in accordance with a declaration by the Socialist Party of America.

　　一年后，按照美国社会党的宣言，美国人在2月28日庆祝了第一个全国妇女节。

　　In 1910, a woman called Clara Zetkin – leader of the ‘women’s office’ for the Social Democratic Party in Germany – tabled the idea of an International Women’s Day. She suggested that every country should celebrate women on one day every year to push for their demands.

　　1910年，德国社会民主党“女性办公室”负责人克拉拉?蔡特金提出了国际妇女节的设想。她建议全世界都应该在每年的某一天庆祝妇女节，为女性争取权益。

　　A conference of more than 100 women from 17 countries agreed to her suggestion and IWD was formed. In 1911, it was celebrated for the first time in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland on March 19.

　　来自17个国家的100多名女性开会支持她的建议，并设立了国际妇女节。1911年，奥地利、丹麦、德国和瑞士在3月19日首次庆祝这一节日。

　　In 1913, it was decided to transfer IWD to March 8, and it has been celebrated on that day ever since. The day was only recognized by the United Nations in 1975, but ever since it has created a theme each year for the celebration.

　　1913年，人们决定将国际妇女节改到3月8日，自此每年都在这一天庆祝妇女节。1975年，国际妇女节获得联合国的承认，此后每年的妇女节庆祝活动都有一个主题。

　　“我们既可以温柔的注视痛苦，又可以锐利的俯瞰繁华；我们既可以宜室宜家，又可以为国为民。” 祝广大女性同胞们节日快乐！Happy International Women's Day!