Defender of the Fatherland Day

The Day of the Defender of the Fatherland (Russian: День защитника Отечества ) is a public holiday in Russia and some other parts of the former Soviet Union. It is celebrated in Russia annually on 23 February and is free of work since 2002. Today, February 23 is also the unofficial man's day.

Historical Background

The holiday was introduced by Lenin in 1922 by the Order No. 95 as non -working day the Red Army. So he was called up in 1949 and then to 1991 days of the Soviet army and naval forces. He was one of their most important holidays until the end of the Soviet Union and recalls the beginnings of the Red Army. On February 23, 1918 were recruited in Petrograd and Moscow for the first time on a larger scale soldiers and there were also victories in battles between the Red Army and the troops of the German Empire in Pskov and Narva. The decree establishing the army, however, was already adopted on January 25, 1918 So about a month earlier.

Previously found on the holiday always takes great military parades.

Status of a holiday in the individual states

Ukraine and Belarus

In 1999 the Ukrainian parliament decided to introduce the soviet holiday again. He is, as well as in Belarus, not work-free.

Kazakhstan

In Kazakhstan, the Day of Defender of the Fatherland on May 7, is committed to the Kazakh army was drawn up in 1992.