site.btaTrend Survey Finds 68% of Bulgarians Mark and/or Celebrate March 8

The Research Center Trend found that 68% of Bulgarians mark and/or celebrate March 8, International Women's Day. The survey  commissioned by the 24 Chasa daily was conducted among 1,010 people aged 18 or over between February 7 and 14 through a semi-standardized face-to-face interview.

The holiday is recognized by 80% of women respondents and 68% of them say they feel special on this day.

Two out of three respondents (67%) are planning to give a flower: 60% of them to their mothers, 37% to a wife/partner, 30% to a girlfriend, 24% to a coworker, and 7% to a daughter, daughter-in-law or other women close to them.

Nearly half of Bulgarians (45%) believe that March 8 is just about the festive atmosphere. About one in three (32%) say that in addition to the festive spirit, the date has an important social significance - a view expressed more often by women. For 16% the holiday is outdated and unimportant, Trend said.

March 8 is a holiday of all women, according to 61% of respondents, while 20% say it is a holiday of mothers. Also, 9% consider it a socialist-era holiday; a mere 4% associate March 8 above all with the struggle for women's rights.

Nearly half of respondents (46%) say the holiday is not commercialized and 29% hold the opposite view.

Tatyana Kmetova, Executive Director of the Center of Women's Studies and Policies, told BTA ahead of March 8 that the modern Bulgarian woman can be proud of her achievements; she has nothing to be ashamed of and it is also important not to be afraid. Modern women are quite confident in themselves and do not see society or the family as posing any obstacles to realizing their potential.