Happy Men’s Day
23 February 2021
Today is a state holiday in Russia – День защитника Отечества – Defender of the Fatherland Day. Officially it celebrates the achievements of military forces and veterans (both men and women), but popularly it’s now treated more like Men’s Day, and is sometimes referred to as that (День мужчин). It’s seen in Russia as a counterpart to the internationally recognised Women’s Day (8 March).
It was originally established in 1919, to mark the time in 1918 when, soon after the Revolution and while the country was in the grip of civil war, the Red Army was established and the first mass draft occurred in Petrograd and Moscow. At first it was known as Red Army Day and then a few years later renamed Day of the Red Army and the Navy. In 1949, it was renamed Soviet Army and Navy Day. Three years after the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, the holiday was given its current name by President Putin, who decreed it a state holiday in Russia.
On 23 February women (and also many men) celebrate and give presents to the men who play a major role in their lives – such as fathers, husbands, brothers, teachers or work colleagues.
The holiday is marked with parades in honour of veterans, and in Moscow the President and other dignitaries lay wreaths at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, beside the wall of the Kremlin. Then in the evening there’ll be spectacular firework displays (as there are on lots of Russian holidays).
Here are some greetings cards, and a badge, which mark the occasion. The first is recent, as it mentions Defender of the Fatherland Day, whilst the others are from the Soviet era:
