Women and their timeless bond with the olive tree

The International Day of Rural Women (October 15), established by the United Nations, is dedicated to all those women who, away from the spotlight of the cities, keep the land, tradition, and community alive. They form the backbone of rural society and family economy, contributing decisively to food security, sustainable development, and the preservation of culture.

Women in the olive grove – The soul of the harvest

Olive harvesting is a collective process that unites generations, families, and neighborhoods. At its heart, however, is always the woman.
•She takes part in the picking of olives, with patience and precision, ensuring the fruit is not damaged.
•She organizes the “housekeeping” of the field: preparing food, water, and rest, so that the whole team remains strong.
•She transmits rhythm and joy through songs and stories, transforming hard labor into shared memory.
•She ensures that the tradition of cultivation and the knowledge of olive oil are passed on to the next generations.


The ancient bond between women and the olive tree

The olive tree is not just a plant; it is a symbol of life, peace, and fertility. In antiquity, women were deeply connected to this sacred tree:
•The goddess Athena gifted the olive tree to Athens as a symbol of wisdom and prosperity.
•Women used olive oil in everyday life: in cooking, in body care, and in fertility rituals.
•Olive oil was central to birth, marriage, and death – the three stages of human existence that women guided.

Women, like the olive tree, carry the power of resilience and renewal. Just as the tree regenerates after fire or frost, so too the rural woman rises again, supporting her family and her community even in difficult times.

The rural woman today

Today, rural women continue to carry a weight disproportionate to the recognition they receive:
•They work in agriculture and livestock, often unpaid or underpaid.
•They contribute decisively to the preservation of biodiversity and the transmission of sustainable farming practices.
•They are the guardians of the Mediterranean diet, which today is recognized as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.
•At the same time, they support family, the village school, and social life, turning their role into a multifaceted offering.

Honoring the women of the land

October 15 is not just a commemorative day. It is a reminder that the rural woman deserves respect, support, and recognition for her many roles:
•As worker and producer.
•As guardian of tradition.
•As educator of the next generations.
•As deeply intertwined with the sacred olive tree, which has marked the soul of Greece.

Women and the olive tree have walked together for millennia. Today, on the International Day of Rural Women, let us turn our gaze to those women who keep alive the land and the spirit of our heritage.

Indicative Sources
1. United Nations (2007). Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 18 December 2007 – International Day of Rural Women. United Nations General Assembly.
2. FAO – Food and Agriculture Organization (2011). The State of Food and Agriculture: Women in Agriculture – Closing the gender gap for development. Rome: FAO.
3. FAO & UN Women (2021). Rural women and the Sustainable Development Goals. FAO/UN Women Report.
4. Alexopoulos, G. & Vlachopoulos, S. (2018). Women and olive cultivation in Greece: From tradition to sustainable development. Journal of Rural Studies, 59, 50–59.
5. Forbes, H. (1995). The Greek Rural Landscape: Tradition and Modernity. Cambridge University Press.
6. Montanari, M. (2006). Food is Culture. Columbia University Press.
7. UNESCO (2010). Mediterranean Diet – Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Paris: UNESCO.
8. Gallant, T. W. (1991). Risk and Survival in Ancient Greece: Reconstructing the Rural Domestic Economy. Stanford University Press.
9. Beauvoir, S. de (1949). Le Deuxième Sexe [Το Δεύτερο Φύλο] – ανάλυση της γυναικείας ταυτότητας σε παραδοσιακές κοινωνίες.