We get the first long respite after the New Year holidays in the second month of the year. It’s time to plan a small trip or a big party – the weekend will last three days in a row. Do not forget to congratulate relatives and friends associated with military service on this day – this is their professional holiday.
The way we rest on February 23 depends on the day on which the holiday fell. In 2023, Defender of the Fatherland Day falls on Thursday. The holiday is likely to be cut off from other weekends. Wednesday 22 February will be a shortened working day. This is preliminary information – to understand exactly how we are resting on February 23 in 2023, we will be in the fall of 2022, when they agree on the production calendar for next year.
Most likely, another shortened week awaits us: Thursday (February 23) will be considered a holiday, only four working days remain in the working week: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday (February 20, 21, 22, 24).
All of these changes apply to those on the 5/2 schedule.
Why we rest on February 23
The holiday celebrated on this day was established at the dawn of the Soviet Union, in 1922. Then it was called the Day of the Red Army and existed with that name for 24 years. Since then, this day has changed several names, only the date of the celebration has remained unchanged – February 23:
- 1922-1946 – Day of the Red Army;
- 1946-1949 — Day of the Soviet Army;
- 1949-1993 – Day of the Soviet Army and Navy;
- 1993-2006 – Day of the victory of the Red Army over the Kaiser troops of Germany (1918) – Day of the Defenders of the Fatherland;
- 2006-present – Defender of the Fatherland Day.
The name of the holiday changed, and the country in which it was celebrated also changed. Therefore, February 23, for example, in the Soviet Union and in the Federation are two different dates, however, having, of course, common historical roots.
It is also interesting that February 23 has always been a working day. An extra day off in February is an innovation of the authorities, which declared Defender of the Fatherland Day non-working in 2002. This was done to emphasize the significance of the event and pay tribute to the army and military
Who and how celebrates February 23
Defender of the Fatherland Day in one form or another is celebrated in almost all countries of the post-Soviet space. Most widely – in Our Country, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.
In our country, this holiday has received the unofficial status of “Men’s Day” – on February 23, it is customary to congratulate all male representatives, regardless of their military status. At the same time, a separate holiday for men has long existed and is celebrated all over the world on the first Saturday of November.
Nevertheless, on Defender of the Fatherland Day, in the first place, of course, servicemen are honored. Moreover, both sexes – after all, not only men, but also women stand guard over the Motherland. Veterans of wars are not forgotten either – those who participated in hostilities and visited hot spots are congratulated with special honors.
Defender of the Fatherland Day has become a truly national holiday. It is celebrated at all levels: festive events are held in educational institutions, in many cities they give concerts and hold thematic events, fireworks are fired.
A special tradition is the solemn laying of wreaths at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Government delegations are accompanied by guards of honor and a military band.