In the Chinese-speaking world, International Women's Day is known as 三八妇女节 (literally "three eight Women's Festival). The numbers come from the Chinese way of writing dates, stating the month first, then the day (the eighth day of the third month of the year).
Most people will probably not read too much into the Chinese name of the day. However, the Chinese name has not sat well with me. You see, a gossipy and naggy woman is described as 三八婆 (read "san ba po", literally "three eight old lady"). If you find your female friend too naggy for comfort, you would say to her, "妳很三八!" (roughly translated as "you are such a nag", but the description is "three eight"). In short, 三八 or "three eight" carries a negative connotation.
So, to call International Women's Day 三八妇女节 instead of just 妇女节 ("Women's Festival") does not sit well with me. Why should a day to celebrate women include nagging and gossip?!
Maybe we Chinese-speaking women should start the change by leaving out 三八 and just call the day 妇女节 and make a big celebration out of it!
Cheers to all women around the world!
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