Russia imports millions of flowers for Women's Day

The rush will be on for Moscow's flower sellers on Monday as Russia celebrates International Women's Day. Created in the 1920s as a form of propaganda, Women's Day originally was an opportunity to praise Soviet women and their role in the state. During World War II, the holiday became even bigger as women were glorified for their heroic role in defeating the Germans.

Nowadays, the national holiday is not only a celebration of Russian women, it is also big business for suppliers and sellers of flowers. Russia has imported thousands of tons of flowers in all shades and colours ahead of the holiday, according to the country's customs office.

It reported that more than 9,000 tons of flowers crossed the border since mid-February, twice as many as the last year's figures. The top four countries of origin were the Netherlands, Ecuador, Kenya and Colombia. Florists at one of the largest flowers market in the capital, Moscow, expect business to be brisk on Monday so have been busy preparing.

They ordered their flowers well in advance, allowing enough time for shipments to pass through customs and get to the market. And despite fears of a flower deficit amid the coronavirus pandemic, customers in Russia will have plenty of choice with 120 million imported flowers.