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Since the beginning of its appearance in 1918, the holiday has repeatedly changed its name, and in 2002 this day was made a non-working day. Now February 23 from the Day of the Red Army has ceased into the unofficial Day of all men.
history of the holiday
More than a hundred years ago, at the height of the First World War, on January 28 (January 15), 1918, the Council of People’s Commissars, headed by Vladimir Lenin, adopted a Decree on the organization of the Workers ‘and Peasants’ Red Army (RKKA). In January of the following year, the head of the Higher Military Inspectorate of the Red Army, Nikolai Podvoisky, proposed celebrating the anniversary of the formation of the Red Army by setting its “birthday” for the Sunday closest to January 28. However, this issue was not resolved due to lack of time. At the end of the month, the Moscow Council, under the leadership of Lev Kamenev, decided to coincide with the celebrations on the occasion of the anniversary of the formation of the Red Army on Red Gift Day (this day was appointed by a special commission to help the warring soldiers). The next Sunday was February 16, but we did not have time to celebrate Red Gift Day and Red Army Day on this date, so we decided to postpone it for a week and celebrate February 23. Then the holiday was forgotten for two years, on January 27, 1922, the Presidium of the All- Central Executive Committee decided to mark the fourth anniversary of the formation of the Red Army on February 23.
Later, there was evidence that it was on February 23, 1918 that the Red Army units defeated the German invaders near Pskov and Narva. In 1951, the wording was adopted that on this day the mobilization of workers to join the Red Army took place.
In 1995, the holiday received a long name – “The Day of the Red Army’s victory over the Kaiser troops of Germany in 1918 – the Day of Defenders of the Fatherland.” And in 2006, it received its familiar name – Defender of the Fatherland Day (singular). In 2002, the State Duma decided to make this day non-working.
What is celebrated on Defender of the Fatherland Day
Throughout the 23th century, February 23 was celebrated in Our Country as the day of the creation of the Red Army. Since in the USSR there was universal military service for the stronger sex, on February 18, almost all men over XNUMX years old, as well as boys, as future defenders, were waiting for congratulations. Later, the wording “Red Army Day” lost its relevance, so the holiday became an unofficial day for men. On Defender of the Fatherland Day, respect and care for all men are now celebrated, highlighting those in uniform. Also on this day, they usually do not forget to congratulate the women who serve in the military and defend our country.
Holiday traditions
One of the main traditions of Defender of the Fatherland Day is the solemn wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Moscow. Also, a festive concert is held annually in the State Kremlin Palace, where patriotic and military songs are heard.
In addition, a solemn fireworks display is an unchanging tradition. In Moscow, as a rule, it is launched from 16 sites. Basically, the sites are organized in parks and on the banks of reservoirs, and Poklonnaya Gora, Vorobyovy Gory and Luzhnetskaya Embankment traditionally become the main ones.
Gifts
It is generally accepted that on Defender of the Fatherland Day, our men receive socks and some kind of shaving product as a gift. But lately, women have been trying to turn on their imagination and give their protector something more unusual – starting with flowers and ending with a trip to a quest or a parachute jump.
At the same time, specialists from the All- Public Opinion Research Center (VTsIOM) conducted a survey (1) among men to find out their most desired gift. It turned out that the majority of the stronger sex dreams of traveling – 22% of respondents named a tour package. In second place is a car (17%), and in third place are tickets to a concert or dinner at a restaurant, as well as simply money (13% each). Also in the top five are gadgets and books (10% each). Of course, not every woman will be able to give her lover a new car, but organizing a trip, for example, to the region or unexplored places in her region, as well as choosing an interesting book, most likely, almost any lady will be able to.
By the way, according to the results of the survey, 35% of women are going to give perfume to their soul mates, 29% – souvenirs and stationery, and 16% want to dress up men in honor of the holiday.
Sources of
- https://www.Healthy Food Near Me/daily/26946.7/3997329/