French Guiana

Women's International Day has been observed since over eight years ago. Women and men who advocate for the cause of women, celebrate worldwide her efforts and devotion in reaching equality, justice, peace and development. Beyond national frontiers, and ethnic differences, language barriers, as well as cultural, economic and political gaps, women for all over the world observe this day and iterate the conscious thought behind the fact that they are entitled no only to half the obligations, but also to their rights, too. Women's International Day was declared in 1910 by Clara Zetkin, a German member of the International Trade Union of Seamstresses, during the International Congress of Coppehague’s Socialist Women in Denmark. The commemoration was singled out to pay tribute to a group of women who bravely seized control of a New York City's textile factory in 1857 to demand equal wages and a 10-hour working day.The owners' reply to this demand was to set the seized factory on fire. 129 female workers died.The United Nations, as a major world forum and international arena, applauded the celebration of Women's Day in many other countries. By passing Resolution 32/142, all nations were summoned to set aside, according to their own traditions and national customs, one day of the year to observe the United Nations Day for Women's Rights and International Peace.

On this day, people observe the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, the Redeemer of the World, the Son of the Virgin Mary, born in Bethlehem, giving out peace and love as His most coveted gifts. During Christmas' Eve, a dinner among family members or friends takes place, where everybody hopefully waits for the December 25 Holiday. This is an ideal date to remember the teachings of this sublime Teacher of Love and Compassion, and compare this all with our way of living. Thus, we will be able to set up a standard to follow in our daily lives, in harmony with the lessons learned this way, and so make a contribution for the strengthening of human values in our society.

It's equally celebrated in all Latin American and Caribbean nations. Some of these countries, aware of the importance of their respective people’s actions for achieving a common goal, have inserted in their own cultures the tradition of the new goals to be attained during the New Year. By and large, this usually happens in a casual meeting linked to this particular celebration (New Year's Eve dinner, or the first meeting of family members and friends on the New Year’s very first day. Tradition goes that people in that family reunion must tell one another their wishes for the New Year as a way of sharing opinions.When the clock ticks by closer and closer to midnight, some people like eating grapes over each and every toll of the bells, just for the sake of good luck. Then, right at that moment, people hug one another; lovers wait for the occasion to kiss each other the Old Year away; drivers honks their cars and fireworks light up the night everywhere. A few minutes later, some begin to dine their traditional dishes saved for that special occasion; other toast; some others dance or hit the streets to party the night away.