Mimosa and the International Woman's Day

March 8th, International Women’s Day!

In Italy, Women’s Day is celebrated by offering mimosa flowers to the women. Where did this tradition came from?  I heard two different stories. The first one, the saddest one, started March 8th 1908. 15.000 women marched the streets of New York for better working conditions. Later, a textile factory caught fire, killing 145 women. The fire escapes were closed to prevent the women from slipping away to take a break. The story goes that on the ashes of that burnt factory a mimosa tree arised spontaneously?! The second story is a more practical one. The tradition of giving mimosa is a more recent one and dates back to 1946. Some activist came with the idea of marking the Women’s Day with a symbolic gesture and started offering mimosa flowers to other women, as a gift but also a sign of mutual respect and support. The choice was not so difficult: mimosa is one of the few plants that bloom beginning of March. And secondly, it was also cheap, another advantage given the situation in that period. What do you think? Whatever the true story is, in Italy the women are offered mimosa flowers on the 8th of March. That day the restaurants and bars are packed with women celebrating Women’s day with their female friends. Mimosa cocktail, mimosa cake, mimosa pizza,… You name it, you will find it that day.

Mimosa is also a very typical plant of the Italian Riviera. This year the valley was already starting to color yellow in January!  

I would have liked to introduce a candle and soap with mimosa scent this day, but I am still testing to find the right formula that is up to our standards. As you know, we don't use any synthetical scents and products and that makes it a bit more difficult. Mimosa is a very delicate flower and it is not so easy to capture its scent in a candle and soap. But hey, we will get there! I will continue working on it and you will be the first to hear when they are available!

HAPPY INTERNATIONAL WOMAN'S DAY!