Gilmerton Community Centre will be among those celebrating International Women's Day early next month, with workshops set on creative, musical and artistic themes, writes Stuart Wilson.

 

Following the success of last year's event, the centre continues to look for ways to inspire women in the community. Local women are invited to attend the centre between 9.30am and 2.30pm on Wednesday 12 March to participate in workshops, access information stalls and partake of coffee and lunch. A free crèche is available.

The celebratory day was set up nearly a hundred years ago, when angry New York female workers demanded a change to their pay and working hours.

  Although not heard of as much in Britain, the event has great significance throughout the rest of the world, with countries such as Russian and Kazakhstan having a public holiday where women are treated like royalty. The tradition also states that any backchat or disrespect will lead to a husband gaining disrepute.

  Rumour has it that the women of South Edinburgh are campaigning in their masses to have these traditions installed in time for this year's celebration. Husbands beware!