home cooking with Mary Ann Esposito
Celebrate International Women’s Day Connect to other cultures by preparing these delicious recipes.
I
wonder how many of us know the significance of March 8 for women around the world. Historians say
this day—known as International Women’s Day—was born out of griev-
ances by female garment workers in New York City in 1907. The protest highlighted the lack of women’s rights, including the denial of a vote, poor working conditions and lack of respect for women in the workforce. But the movement gained more speed and attention in socialist and communist countries where the outcry for women’s rights was greater. France proclaimed its first Woman’s Day in 1911, followed by Russia, where Vladimir Lenin declared Woman’s Day an official holiday. Spain and China followed suit. After 1945, the name was changed from Woman’s Day to Women’s Day and was celebrated mainly in socialist countries. The United Nations General Assembly officially recognized March 8 as International Women’s Day in 1975, and by 2014, it was observed in over one hundred countries. Purple was the color chosen to symbolize achieving dignity and justice for all women. Today, this observance has grown
In Rome after World War II, Italians
dishes? I like to draw from different
into a festival of marches, ideas and
started honoring women with bouquets
cultures and prepare foods using as
recognition of women worldwide who
of bright yellow mimosa flowers that
many typical ingredients as are avail-
have made an impact. The celebrations
bloom in March, and the flower became
able. Some options could be Chinese
take many distinct forms; some of them
the symbol of The Festival of Women
wonton soup, Korean spicy cabbage,
a bit unusual—in China, men dress in
(La Festa delle Donne).
English fish and chips, or Irish corned
women’s clothing and high heels to
Food is also central to the day’s events.
climb mountains to express the hard-
So why not make the day special and
ships women face!
fun by preparing some global-inspired
beef. Let’s celebrate the women of the world!
NHH
Text, Food Prep and Styling by Mary Ann Esposito | Photography by John W. Hession 28 | New Hampshire Home
march/april 2020
