Defender of the Fatherland Day 2024 (Russia): In Russia, Defender of the Fatherland Day is observed on February 23, which is also Males’s Day, because the majority of Russian males are required to serve in the military. Even though they have never served in the armed forces, women often bestow greeting cards and gifts on male relatives.
The day before or after the holiday, many women extend their congratulations to their male coworkers, and girls may give boys small gifts. Local governments in Russia may coordinate parades in remembrance of the military and veterans on this day. The increasing recognition of women serving in the military on this day brings the holiday’s traditionally masculine connotation into question.
Defender of the Fatherland Day History
In 1919, Defender of the Fatherland Day was initially observed. During the Russian Civil War, on February 17, 1918, the initial mass conscription into the Red Army took place in Moscow and Petrograd. In January 1919, a decision was made to merge the observance of that particular day with the commemoration of the decree that issued the establishment of the Red Army. Due to the Monday nature of February 17, 1919, the holiday was rescheduled to the Sunday that followed, February 23.
Since then, that day has remained unchanged. Originally, it was referred to as Red Army Day. It underwent two renamings: the Day of the Red Army and Navy in 1923, and the Soviet Army and Navy Day in 1949. In 2002, following the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, Russian President Vladimir Putin renamed the occasion and proclaimed it a national holiday.
Officially, the holiday recognizes those who have served or are serving in the Russian Armed Forces (military and civilian personnel alike), as the name suggests. Nonetheless, it has come to symbolize the celebration of males in general and to function as a national equivalent to International Women’s Day on an unofficial level.
One of Moscow’s holiday traditions is laying wreaths at the monument of the “Unknown Soldier” near the Kremlin. The Russian President, the heads of both chambers of parliament, military leaders, congressmen from other branches of government, political party leaders, and representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church all visited the Alexander Garden, which is close to the Moscow Kremlin ramparts.
A solemn march by an honor guard unit follows a minute of silence and the playing of the national anthem. The leadership of the nation attends a holiday concert at the State Kremlin Palace in the evening. Evening pyrotechnic displays are a common occurrence in Moscow and numerous other Russian cities. Cathedral Square in Omsk will be the site of a military spectacle on February 23.
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FAQs for Defender of the Fatherland Day
What differentiates the terms “fatherland” and “motherland”?
The term “fatherland” was defined as “the ancestral or paternal homeland of an individual,” whereas “motherland” referred to “the territory of an individual’s parents or mother.”
Who comprised the Red Army’s forces?
The Workers’ and Peasants’ Red Army, commonly referred to as the Red Army, comprised the air force and military forces of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, which succeeded the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic in 1922.
What causes Russia’s moniker, “The Red Country”?
Red represents a communist ideology. The Bolsheviks appropriated the color red to signify workers’ blood, and the Soviet Union’s red flag, with its gold-colored hammer and sickle, is still recognized today.
Defender of the Fatherland Day 2024 (Russia) Activities
Rationalize your masculine coworkers
Male acquaintances and relatives who have never served in the military are still eligible to receive postcards and gifts. Extend congratulations to your masculine coworkers.
The Russian Revolution: An Analysis
It was during the Russian Revolution that modern history came to a pivotal halt. Invest the entire day in the investigation.
Exclaim “hello”
You may know one or two of the five million living veterans estimated to reside in Russia. Regardless of your stance, seize the occasion to express gratitude towards a veteran for their valor.
Five fascinating facts concerning Russia
The initial individual to venture into space
Yuri Gagarin of Russia achieved the historic milestone of being the first human to venture into space.
The Red Army had strict discipline
Discipline was rigid within the Red Army, and deference to political leadership was an intrinsic value.
Many dialects
Russia recognizes more than thirty languages formally.
Gas and oil reserves are abundant.
Gas and oil comprise 59% of the nation’s total exports.
The largest country on earth
The land area of the nation is 6,601,665 square miles.
DEFENDER OF THE FATHERLAND DAY DATES
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | February 23 | Friday |
| 2025 | February 23 | Sunday |
| 2026 | February 23 | Monday |
| 2027 | February 23 | Tuesday |
| 2028 | February 23 | Wednesday |
