International Women's Day on March 8 is probably celebrated more elaborately in Romania than anywhere else in Europe. As a result, it's almost mandatory for every single woman in the country to receive flowers on that day. This brings a great deal of joy, not only to women, but to florists too.
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00:00 March 8th. It's early morning in Bucharest, the capital of Romania.
00:07 Today, every man in the country has a crucial mission - to buy flowers for the lady in his life.
00:14 He may not be Romanian, but Slovak citizen Vladis knows what he has to do.
00:20 So, today is 8th of March, now it's obligatory to buy a flower for your loved ones.
00:30 And myself, living here for 4 years, I have to do the same as everybody in Romania, because it's really big.
00:36 But now the important part is to pick the correct flower.
00:40 And I don't know if it's the size or the color, or the price, perhaps.
00:45 Hello! I don't think you can go wrong with pink. How much does it cost?
00:50 60? 60, in fact.
00:53 So, it's actually a very good price, which is 2 euros.
01:02 Wonderful.
01:03 In 1977, the United Nations designated March 8th International Women's Day.
01:10 Now, women are celebrated on this day in many countries around the world.
01:14 But no one does it quite like the Romanians.
01:17 Come home without flowers for your lady love on this day, and you'll be skating on thin ice for the rest of the year.
01:24 But it's not only women who enjoy this celebration.
01:28 Florists love it even more.
01:30 I know that February 14th is celebrated everywhere, but I know that March 8th is not.
01:36 So, it's something more specific, more local?
01:39 I think it's more Eastern, more Balkan.
01:44 In March, there are more sales, more customers.
01:48 Five, six, seven times more than on a normal day.
01:52 But apparently what happens nowadays is nothing compared to how Romanians celebrated women in years gone by.
01:59 At least, this is what a florist with over 30 years of experience says.
02:03 March 8th was celebrated by the entire Romanian people.
02:07 So, the day was so festive that families would meet in the evening,
02:17 they would set the table, receive gifts, give flowers, especially.
02:22 Vlad's girlfriend is getting flowers and cakes today.
02:26 So, now everything is ready, mission accomplished, let's go home.
02:30 Honey, I'm home!
02:33 Hey!
02:34 Look what I bought for you, some nice flowers.
02:37 It's the 8th of March and your favorite coffee, eclair.
02:43 Although Vladis has adapted to the local culture, his first attempts didn't quite go according to plan.
02:49 Can you remember your first 8th March in Romania?
02:52 Oh, yes, I can.
02:54 Do you remember when I went to buy you a flower and I got scammed?
02:58 And I had to pay like four or five times more than I should have,
03:01 and I said it's going to be the last time I'm going to buy you a flower.
03:04 You didn't get scammed today.
03:05 No, I hope so.
03:06 Simona is Romanian.
03:09 I used to go to the kindergarten, then to school.
03:12 On March 8th, I had to buy flowers for the teachers, for my mother, for my mother-in-law.
03:20 It's something I grew up with. It's rooted in me.
03:26 So, although March 8th is International Women's Day, it seems that the men in Romania get something out of it as well.
03:34 I think that 8th of March should be every month, not just every year.
03:40 Aha, you have more projects for me, right?
03:43 And more kisses for me.
03:45 And as for the florists, they're certainly happy too.
03:51 [Music]
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