Throughout the world, March 8th marks International Women’s Day, known as “Festa Della Donna” in Italy. This celebration dates back to 1909 in the US, 1911 in several European countries, and 1922 in Italy. It wasn’t until 1977 that the UN officially recognized it.
In Italy, March 8th is marked by the vibrant yellow blossoms of mimosas, a plant chosen as the symbol of Women’s Day. It’s unique to Italy to gift mimosa flowers to women, a tradition that acknowledges women’s economic, political, and social accomplishments over the past century.
The mimosa was adopted as the emblem of Women’s Day on March 8th, 1946, thanks to a suggestion from three members of the Italian Women’s Union. Why mimosa? During the aftermath of World War II, it was one of the few flowers that bloomed, and it was inexpensive in a country still reeling from the war’s devastation.
Interestingly, even during the fascist era, there was an informal practice among women in Italian workplaces to exchange sprigs of mimosa. This gesture symbolized solidarity and camaraderie among women striving for rights that were often overlooked. The mimosa’s significance lies also in its clustered flowers, representing the collective strength of individual women.
This Italian tradition endures today, with florists turning their shops yellow on International Women’s Day and street vendors setting up stalls selling mimosas. While it used to be women exchanging mimosa sprigs, now on March 8th it’s mainly men gifting women mimosa flowers. A nice sign of changing times.
More than a mimosa
This shrub with yellow flowers native to southeastern Australia and Tasmania also holds a deeper meaning in the language of flowers. Its significance slightly varies depending on the culture and era, but generally speaking, mimosa is associated with happiness, sweetness, and love. Particularly, the bright yellow color of the flowers represents joy and optimism.
The mimosa is often linked to spring and rebirth, symbolizing hope for a better future, and it also conveys the meaning of “secret love”. Those who offer this flower as a gift are telling between the line: “No one knows I love you, but I do”. For Native Americans, a sprig of mimosa symbolizes strength, energy, and femininity.
Dulcis in fundo, the yellow of the mimosa inspired the namesake cocktail – the classic fizz made with orange juice and champagne, or prosecco – and the mimosa cake. This dessert, created in Rieti in the 1950s, is a layered sponge cake hiding a soft heart of custard and whipped cream, with scattered pieces of sponge cake on the surface resembling mimosa flowers.
