Updated: 7:35 a.m.

Wednesday, around the world, people will celebrate International Women's Day. In the United States, many women will also participate in "A Day Without a Woman," a protest designed to "highlight the economic power and significance that women have in the US and global economies," according to organizers.

International Women's Day has been observed in one form or another since 1909, when the Socialist Party of America declared the first Women's Day be held in the United States.

The next year, at the second International Conference of Working Women in Copenhagen, Clara Zetkin, leader of the 'Women's Office' for the Social Democratic Party in Germany, proposed an international Women's Day. According to the website of International Women's Day, "She proposed that every year in every country there should be a celebration on the same day -- a Women's Day -- to press for their demands."

This year, the theme of International Women's Day is "#BeBoldForChange."

The Day Without a Woman protest is being organized by the Women's March on Washington. To participate in the action, there are several things women, men and nonbinary people can do.

First, women are asked "to refrain from paid and unpaid work." The national organizers acknowledge this might be difficult for women with children and women with "economic insecurity."

For the women that can't strike, say the organizers on their website, "We strike for them."

Next, everyone is encouraged to refrain from shopping, in stores and online, though "exceptions include local small businesses and women-owned businesses that support us."

Everyone is also asked to wear red to express solidarity with the strike. The organizers chose red because it is "a color of signifying revolutionary love and sacrifice."

As for men, in the event FAQ, organizers say, "We ask that our male allies lean into care giving on March 8th, and use the day to call out decision-makers at the workplace and in the government to extend equal pay and adequate paid family leave for women."

In Portland, there are a variety of ways people can participate in International Women's Day and/or A Day Without a Woman.

Strikers can join a hike to Pittock Mansion. Holocene will host an afternoon of workshops and film. And Commissioner Loretta Smith will commemorate the renaming of the Multnomah County Elections Building in honor of Oregon suffragettes Abigail Scott Duniway and Esther Pohl Lovejoy.

Don't forget to mark your calendar: On Wednesday, March 8 join Commissioner Loretta Smith in celebrating the renaming of... Posted by Multnomah County, Oregon on Friday, March 3, 2017

International Women's Day 2017 50 Gallery: International Women's Day 2017

Some businesses will be open but standing in solidarity with A Day Without a Woman.

It will just be me (and Georgie) at the Underdog Law Office tomorrow. Staff is being paid to stay home. #ADayWithoutaWoman pic.twitter.com/XP0wBvHiGa — Michael Fuller (@UnderdogLawBlog) March 7, 2017

Will your business be closed or are you hosting an event for International Women's Day/A Day Without a Woman? Send us an email at trending@oregonian.com.

-- Lizzy Acker

503-221-8052

lacker@oregonian.com, @lizzzyacker