Ladies, it’s time to go shopping! But before you get too excited, it’s not for you. This month, there’s a very special day in Russia which is dedicated to men, and I’m not referring to one particular man and Valentine’s Day. At this time of year, Russians commemorate Defender of the Fatherland Day, but it’s not uncommon to hear it referred to as “Men’s Day” and thus you’ll observe the giving of gifts to fathers, male colleagues and boys in school.
This year, Defender of the Fatherland day falls on Friday 23rd February. As well as in Russia, it is celebrated across a number of the states that once formed part of the Soviet Union, including Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Kazakhstan, though the latter have their holiday in May.
The holiday actually has its origins in an event that took place almost a century ago and that has been marked since 1919. The date is significant – it recognises the point in the Russian Civil War when the first mass draft into the Red Army took place. Conscripts were called upon in Petrograd (now St Petersburg) and Moscow on 17th February 1918. The decree to formally establish that Red Army was published a day later, on 18th February and the holiday. The powers that be chose the nearest Sunday in 1919 for the holiday, and it has been commemorated on 23rd February ever since, no matter what day of the week that is.
Since its inception, it’s had a number of names. Originally, the holiday was called Red Army Day, then in 1949 it was renamed Soviet Army and Navy day, before Putin finally settled on its current name in 2002. Though it’s technically just a celebration of the contribution of the Russian Armed Forces, in practice, as most men have to do military service, a lot of men seem to have adopted it as their day. Of course, women get International Women’s Day on 8th March, so they don’t miss out. But that’s why you’ll hear people speaking about “Men’s Day”.
If you’re in Russia on 23rd February, then it’s worth making the effort to go and watch one of the parades and processions that take place. Though events take place across the country, perhaps the best place to do so is in Moscow, where the Russian president and other dignitaries lay wreaths on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier near the Kremlin. After a respectful silence, the national anthem plays and a guard of honour march past.
In the evening, a gala concert is held and fireworks light up the sky. The displays aren’t quite on the scale of May’s Victory Day, but they’re still pretty impressive, just like the men they’re celebrating. So make sure those socks or ties are extra nice too.