Women's History Month: The 2024 theme, why we celebrate, origins of the occasion

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Women's History Month takes place each March.

It's a time to honor and celebrate the women of the past and present who have made a positive impact on society.

Each year, you can celebrate Women's History Month by showing support for a female-owned business, taking a look back at the historical women of the past, and sharing information about the occasion on social media or even by hosting your own discussion group. 

WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH QUIZ! TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF THE COMMEMORATIVE MONTH

Here is everything you need to know about Women's History Month, from why it's recognized to how it first began.

1. Why do we celebrate Women's History Month?
2. What were the past themes for Women's History Month?
3. Who started Women's History Month?
4. Why is Women's History Month in March?
5. What are the colors for Women's History Month?

1. Why do we celebrate Women's History Month?

Women's History Month is celebrated as a way to honor the contributions women have made to society throughout history. It is a month focused on educating people about the important impacts powerful women have made in both the past and the present. 

Though the list is long, some popular historical figures who are often studied and recognized in March are Susan B. Anthony, Harriet Tubman, Amelia Earhart and Maya Angelou.

During Women's History Month, one of the women remembered and celebrated is Susan B. Anthony, a powerful women's rights activist. (Universal History Archive/UIG via Getty images)

2. What were the past themes for Women's History Month?

Each year, there is a theme for Women's History Month that is created by the National Women's History Alliance.

For 2024, the National Women's History Alliance announced the theme "Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion."

WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH: CELEBRATING WOMEN IN AMERICAN HISTORY

The National Women's History Alliance website says that this theme "recognizes women throughout history who understand that, for a positive future, we need to eliminate bias and discrimination entirely from our lives and institutions." 

In past years, some of the themes were:

• "Celebrating Women Who Tell Stories"
• "Women Providing Healing, Promoting Hope"
• "Valiant Women of the Vote: Refusing to Be Silenced"
• "Visionary Women: Champions of Peace & Nonviolence"
• "Nevertheless She Persisted, Honoring Women Who Fight All Forms of Discrimination Against Women"
• "Honoring Trailblazing Women in Labor and Business"
• "Working to Form a More Perfect Union: Honoring Women in Public Service and Government"

3. Who started Women's History Month?

Women's History Month was not officially started until 1987, according to History.com.

A week-long celebration took place prior to that, before the official start of the specially designated month.

In 1978, a school district in Sonoma, California, started Women's History Week. 

This concept was then made into a national week-long holiday by President Jimmy Carter in 1980.

The holiday took place during the week of March 8.

Former President Carter was the one who made Women's History Week an official holiday in 1980. (Getty Images)

Then in 1981, Congress made the week a national celebration. 

It was not until 1987 that the week turned into a month-long celebration.

4. Why is Women's History Month in March? 

Even before the week-long celebration was established by the California school district, the holiday began as National Women's Day. 

The International Women's Day website says it was in 1908 when thousands of women got together and made their way through the streets of New York City in a march. They were fighting for women's rights, including women's voting rights.

The following year, in 1909, the first official National Woman's Day was celebrated, but instead of it being in March, it was on Feb. 28.

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Other countries started recognizing a day for women in March, while Americans continued to celebrate on the last Sunday in February until the 1970s.

Though March is dedicated to women's history, International Women's Day is still held on March 8 each year.

One Women's History Month key date is March 3. The Women's Suffrage Parade took place on that day in 1913. (Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

While women's contributions to society are remembered year-round, there are numerous key dates with historical value that occurred in March.

The National Park Service website says that on March 3, 1913, the Women's Suffrage Parade took place in Washington, D.C., where thousands of women came together to fight for women's right to vote.

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It was not until March 1916 that the National Woman's Party was formed, according to the Library of Congress.

On March 22, 1972, the Equal Rights Amendment was passed in the Senate, per the History channel.

5. What are the colors for Women's History Month?

Purple, green and white are all colors that represent Women's History Month, according to Today.com. The colors were also those of the Women's Suffrage and Political Union, the same site says.

The colors of Women's History Month are purple, green and white. (Nicholas Kamm/AFP via Getty Images)

These colors are often worn in celebration of International Women's Day and in observance of the entire month of March.

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