What is Russia's Defender of the Fatherland Day?
Many countries around the world have at least one day a year to celebrate their armed forces.
The UK celebrates Armed Forces Day on the 25th of June, with a different city chosen to host the festivities each year.
In Russia, where President Vladimir Putin has been marking the occasion today, the day is known as ‘Defender of the Fatherland Day.’
Celebrated each year on the 23rd of February, the day has been a federal holiday since 2002.
Russian Armed Forces Day has had many different names over the past century.
Throughout the USSR, since 1922 the celebration was known as ‘Day of the Red Army.'
From 1946 it was called ‘Day of the Soviet Army’, and three years later they added the Navy to the official title.
Between 1949 and the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 it was called ‘Day of the Soviet Army and the Navy’.
During the 90s when Russia was battling to dismantle its Soviet Past, in 1995 the day was briefly renamed ‘Victory Day of the Red Army over the Kaiser Forces of Germany in 1918’, to highlight its origins in the First World War.
According to one theory, the holiday is celebrated on the 23rd because it marks the day that the most volunteers enlisted in the Red Army in 1918 in one day.
However, the name did not stick and on 15th April 2006, it was renamed for the last time - ‘Defender of the Fatherland Day’ – which is how it is known today.
In 2002, President Putin signed a decree making the day an official non-working holiday for the whole country.
Celebrations involve the laying of flowers at war memorials during the day and fireworks in the evening.
This year fireworks in Moscow, St Petersburg, Tula, Smolensk, Voronezh and the Baltic Russian enclave of Kaliningrad will be accompanied by salutes from World War Two guns.
Traditionally the President of the country lays a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier outside the Kremlin walls. The WWII memorial is nationally as significant as the cenotaph is in the UK.
During a televised speech to the Russian nation today, Putin addressed the Armed Forces: "Dear friends, as supreme leader, I have full confidence in you, the soldiers and the officers of Russia.
"In your high level of professionalism, courage, reliability, that you are going to insure peace of quiet for our citizens, defend the national interest of our great country.
"I wish you health and success in your service, the kindest wishes to your families, loved ones and relatives. Once again from my whole soul, I wish you a happy holiday."
As Russian peacekeeping troops have entered the breakaway regions of Eastern Ukraine yesterday, Putin said: "Today the defence of our country is the most important state task and the armed forces guarantee our national security."
The President also highlighted the "military activity of the NATO bloc" as a danger.
He said: "Our country is always open for honest and open dialogue, finding diplomatic solutions to the most difficult tasks.
"But I will reiterate that the security of our citizens is absolute which is why we are going to keep on developing and improve our army and navy"
The day is celebrated not only in Russia but also in other countries of the Soviet Union that maintain close ties to Moscow such as Belarus, Kirgizstan, and Tajikistan.
After the disintegration of the USSR, Ukraine abolished the holiday. Since the Maidan Revolution in 2014, Ukraine has been commemorating their Armed Forces on October 14th, known as Defender of Ukraine Day.
Russia is known for lavish military parades on Red Square outside the Kremlin. These are a feature of Victory Day, a different military celebration that commemorates as the name suggests allied victory in the Second World War and is celebrated on May 9th.
Traditionally military families celebrate ‘Defender of the Fatherland Day’ at home with a large dinner that can last the whole day.
Unofficially, the holiday is known as “Men’s Day”, seen as a counterpart to International Women’s Day on March 8th which is also a non-working holiday in Russia.
According to a poll published in RIA Novosti, 42% of Russians see it as a day for celebrating men and not just the armed forces.
Russia has mandatory conscription, so a large portion of the male population has military experience.
It is common for little boys as well as men to receive presents on this day.
Cover image: Snipers of the Russian armed forces take part in military exercises at the Kadamovsky range in the Rostov region, Russia January 13. (Picture: Alamy)
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