This holiday is about as international as the World Series is worldly.  IWD is celebrated almost exclusively within the former soviet bloc.  Its the one day of the year you can find Russians walking down the street smiling to each other.  This may or may not be because the vast majority are drunk.

Common gifts for Women’s Day are flowers, jewelery and chocolate.  Not entirely dissimilar to our Valentine’s Day.  The major difference is the complete focus on women.  I mentioned Day of the Defenders of the Fatherland, a sorry excuse to give men some holiday to match wherein the gifts are ‘congrats’ a pat on the back.  I haven’t much else news wise about the holiday, so here is an interesting link.  Siberian researchers have found that whipping people makes them happier.