“8. March is March 8, and it is not worth talking about anything other than women and the joy that can be brought to them,” men of different generations admitted that day, on International Women’s Day.
One of the most understandable symbols of this day are flowers, but the most popular are tulips, because they are associated with spring and also with tradition. Already in anticipation of Women’s Day, every outlet that offers flowers had stocked up considerably. And no one who wanted to please a woman was left without flowers.
A few minutes before the store opened in Augšlīgatne, a couple of men were already waiting in line. Māris Lochmelis from Līgat has just finished his shift at a furniture factory in Mālpils. “At midnight we congratulated all our colleagues, then we continued working. We do this every year,” says Māris and adds that he should buy tulips for his wife in the morning. “Others give roses, but they belong more on other holidays. March 8 is the time of tulips, spring flowers,” says Līgatnietis.
Emil rushes to buy flowers before classes at the high school. He already clearly knows who will give yellow tulips, who will get white roses, who will get a red rose. Every year I congratulate my classmates, teacher. There are classmates who do not greet the girls, but Emil admits that it is a pleasure to give joy, and emphasizes that in the evening mom will be warmly congratulated.
In the small and cozy flower salon “Hortensija”, the first hours of the working day pass intensively for the sellers. Men clearly know what color tulips or roses they want to give and how many to buy. Only a rare few seem embarrassed by the wide variety of flowers. No one forgets to wish a happy Women’s Day to the sellers as well.
“It’s a nice holiday, colleagues should be congratulated. This time I will give roses, why, there is no real answer, I just wanted to,” says Juris Vuļs and rushes off to work at the company “Ekju”. Ilmārs Suhanovs buys tulips of different colors, his work involves driving around companies, he needs a lot of flowers. Mārtiņš Briedis will congratulate his colleague. Everyone who buys flowers wants to make a woman – colleague, doctor, wife, sister, friend – happy.
Kristine, the seller of “Hydrangea”, reveals that tulips alone come in eight colors and shades, and the selection of roses is also wide. Some buyers choose bouquets of flowers. Kristīne remembers that years ago the largest purchase was 75 tulips, which were bought by a representative of a company.
“The day was intense. The most buyers were in the morning and in the evening, but not a single one bought the flowers the night before,” says Iluta Broka, the owner of “Hortensijas” and adds with satisfaction that even though flowers are offered in many shops, both Līgatne residents and passers-by faithfully visit the small salon in Augšlīgatne.
“March 8 is associated with tulips, on Valentine’s Day, when many also give flowers, red roses are the most popular, even though they are not cheap at that time. There are men who have said that they give roses to their wives on all holidays, because they like them best,” shares I. Broka’s thoughts. She says that the next big time of giving flowers will be on Mother’s Day. Then all the flowers are bought, everyone chooses to show love to the closest person in their own special way. “Blooming spring flowers in pots are quite popular, because moms can plant them in the bed afterwards,” says I. Broka.
How many tulips and other flowers women received on March 8 does not appear in the statistics, as well as how much joy was brought and how it affected the well-being, well-being or simply the mood mentioned so many times in different contexts.
