Women's History Month is celebrated in the month of March and it is a time to honor and acknowledge the contributions of women to history, culture and society. It originated in 1978 as a weeklong celebration organized by a California school district, and later expanded to a national holiday by President Jimmy Carter in 1980, and then to an entire month by the National Women's History Project in 1987. The purpose of Women's History Month is to recognize and celebrate the achievements, leadership, courage and strength of women, who have played an important role in shaping the nation and the world.