How holiday has been going on since 1918. During this period, it was formed new country. The political situation in the world was also tense. The First World War bled and exhausted the Russian people, especially soldiers and sailors. There was no army as such. In this regard, at the end of January - beginning of February 1918, Lenin, who was in power, issued a decree on the creation of the Red Army and the Red Navy. They accepted men predominantly of worker-peasant origin, but in general everyone who wanted to.
At the same time, German troops began active military operations in the Baltic states and captured Minsk. Their goal is Petrograd. The created army and navy are taking active fighting, but the capital is not surrendered.
However, if we talk directly about February 23, according to historians, no significant military operations took place on this day, and the Red Army did not win crushing victories. Therefore, it is not very clear why this particular February day was chosen to honor the male population. There is information that on February 23, 1918, battles took place near Narva and Pskov, and Soviet troops won. However, this is not documented in any way.
Due to the difficult situation in the country, complicated by the Civil War, the Day of the Red Army and Navy was somewhat forgotten. However, in 1922, its celebration was resumed, and February 23 was unofficially called Red Gift Day. People collected and brought gifts for soldiers and sailors, and helped the army in great need. That is why you can often find 1922 as the year of formation of the Workers' and Peasants' Red Army. Trotsky was considered an active promoter of the holiday of the Red Army and Navy.
Modern historians believe that the myth about the legendary victories of Russian soldiers over the Germans in 1918 was invented by Stalin in 1938. This is easily explained by his desire to raise the morale of the soldiers and awaken patriotism on the eve of the impending war.
This holiday is important primarily because it marked the beginning of the formation of a regular army that supports the country's combat capability, as was demonstrated in the Great Patriotic War. It was renamed several times. After the war, in 1946, February 23 was already celebrated as the Day of the Soviet Army and the Soviet Navy. Today this holiday is loved and revered among Russians. Since 2002 it has been declared a public holiday.
February 23 is a favorite holiday of men and the day to which loving women begin to prepare almost immediately after New Year's holidays. However, when receiving gifts, few of the stronger sex think about where this important holiday came from and why it is celebrated in cold February.
The birth of the holiday is usually associated with the Decree on the Workers' and Peasants' Red Army. However, historians claim that this document was adopted on January 15, 1918. 20 million rubles were allocated for the creation of the army, which at that time was considered a huge amount.
There was complete confusion at the front - no one could really understand for whom they now needed to fight and whether it was even worth risking their lives. The government of the new Soviet state tried with great effort to form an army, but this process was very tense. The first volunteer recruitment point was opened on February 21 in Petrograd. The leader of the Soviet state made a call to join the new army defending the Socialist Fatherland. The Red Army was able to be assembled, but historians are still arguing about the significance of the first victories.
It was planned to celebrate the anniversary of the Red Army on the day the decree was signed, then they wanted to set the date for the celebration on February 17, but in the end they set the holiday on Sunday, which fell on February 23 that year. For unknown reasons, the military holiday was somehow forgotten for several years. And the solemn resurrection of the holiday occurred in 1922. At the end of January of that year, a resolution was issued by the Presidium of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee on the celebration of the fourth anniversary of the birth of the Red Army, and a year later the holiday was widely celebrated throughout the country under a new name - Red Army Day, approved by the Revolutionary Military Council of the Republic.
In 1938, “A Short Course in the History of the All-Union Communist Party (Bolsheviks)”, written by Joseph Stalin, was published. The stern leader never mentioned Lenin’s Decree. The authorities surrounded this date with myths about the first significant successes, claiming that on February 23, 1918, the Red Army soldiers won decisive victories near Narva and Pskov. In all likelihood, this was how they tried to destroy the facts of the defeats and the signing of the German ultimatum.
Since 1946, the holiday, beloved by the inhabitants of a huge country, began to be called the Day of the Soviet Army and Navy. Traditionally, on this day, all military personnel were honored, to which, after the war, almost every citizen could classify themselves. Gradually, all men began to be congratulated on the holiday, even those who had never served in the army.
In 1995, the State Duma adopted the Law on Days of Military Glory in Russia. With this decree, February 23 acquired a new name - the Day of the Red Army's victory over the Kaiser's troops of Germany in 1918 - Defender of the Fatherland Day. However, this long name, which hardly corresponds to the actual facts, lasted only a few years.
In 2002, the State Duma adopted a resolution to rename February 23 as Defender of the Fatherland Day and declared it a non-working day. This decree erased from the description of the holiday the connection with the victories of the Red Army over the Kaiser’s troops, as a fact that did not correspond to reality.
The modern Day of Defender of the Fatherland is not without military overtones, but now its scope is not limited only to the military. Today this holiday is considered by everyone who has any connection to the defense of the country or their family. This is a holiday of valor, courage, honor and love in the Motherland. On this day, it is customary to congratulate men of all professions and ages, including the youngest, who will one day stand on the defensive lines.
We must not forget that among the fair half there are also many women who, risking their lives, protect their compatriots from various dangers and disasters. On February 23, not only men, but also women are honored.
On this day, traditional congratulations from the country's leadership are heard by members of the Russian Armed Forces, veterans of the Second World War and other military operations. Wreaths and bouquets of flowers are laid at the monuments of heroic warriors. Festive concerts and congratulatory speeches are broadcast on television and radio. In the evening, in hero cities, as well as in settlements where the headquarters of military districts, fleets and combined arms armies are located, the sky is illuminated by festive fireworks.
Men's Day. On February 23, the history of the holiday is brief. An event that has been significant since the times of the USSR and is familiar in Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus.
The year of creation of the Red Army was 1919. The young state had just been born, but was already confronting German troops.
By 1922, the holiday was officially called Red Army and Navy Day. And a year later we celebrated the first 5 years since its founding on a grand scale.
Until the 22nd year the holiday was not remembered or celebrated.
If you are preparing material - February 23, the history of the holiday briefly for children, then tell us that the significance of the date intensified during the war - the Great Patriotic War. Everyone had someone in the war, they were waiting for news from him, and in this expectation, it was February 23 that became a stronghold of hope. People's love for the date strengthened during those difficult times.
Since 1949, the official name of the holiday has changed - the Day of the Soviet Army and Navy.
Remembering the experience, the winter day became truly special. Now they celebrated not a state date, but a celebration on a grand scale - with parades and fireworks. Veterans received honorable attention, orders and medals.
At first, it was the military who were in the spotlight, but the war was left behind and now everyone who served in the army was worthy of celebrating the holiday as their own. Since then, men's day has spread wider.
There is no historical evidence as to why it is customary to give gifts on this day. Rather, it is a tradition arising from the desire to somehow mark the day itself. They brought bouquets to veterans, dedicated poems and events. Now these honors have been replaced by gifts and surprises.
February 23 has become a universal men's day, because there are almost no boundaries between those who served and those who did not serve. It is customary for us to bestow attention on all men, even the smallest ones, as future defenders of the country.
Years go by, the Soviet Union is no more, as is the Red Army. But people’s hearts resist, not wanting to forget that special day in the history of the USSR. In Russia, February 23 has been officially named Defender of the Fatherland Day since 1995. On this day, all men deserve attention - brothers, husbands, fathers, grandfathers.
As you can already see, February 23 - the history of the holiday briefly shows that over the century this day has experienced a significant transformation, but at its core its purpose remains - to glorify defenders.
It just so happened that it was a holiday February 23 counts a holiday of real men, connected by their work with military service, police, army or who have ever served there. Nowadays on this day they congratulate all the men they know - from toddler age to the elderly. This date is celebrated on the territory of the post-Soviet republics, in particular in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Transnistria and Kyrgyzstan.
Turns out, holiday February 23 During its existence, it changed its name several times. From Soviet childhood we remember him as Soviet Army Day and Navy . But in 1918, the year of his birth, and until 1923 it was called Victory Day of the Red Army over the Kaiser's troops of Germany. Since 1923, after it was renamed the Day of the Soviet Army and Navy, this holiday became very revered in the USSR and became day off for working citizens.
Particularly significant holiday February 23 was during the Great Patriotic War as the personification of the masculinity and fearlessness of Soviet soldiers. After the Victory on this day, both the government and ordinary citizens gave cards and carnations to war veterans. Probably every Soviet schoolchild at least once received an assignment with an address and money given for a postcard and bouquet, to pay a visit to a veteran and congratulate him from the school. A mandatory event was visiting the monuments to the soldiers of the Soviet army who died during the war and laying flowers.
All this was very significant and revered until camber Soviet Union
. Later, separate independent states 
former republics, repeatedly tried to rename holiday February 23 and not everyone left him status public holiday happy day off.
In 1993-1994 in Russia this day was appointed Russian Army Day, and since 1995 - Defender of the Fatherland Day. The army in Russia has always occupied one of the important places in the formation of the state, therefore, even today on this day it is considered obligatory to congratulate all men, especially military personnel. There is also a state program to maintain order at the burial sites of soldiers and monuments.
In independent Ukraine In the first years there were attempts to cancel this holiday completely; it was even appointed new date– December 6th became Day of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. However, in 1999 they returned February 23 Defender of the Fatherland Day status. True, without saving a day off. In Ukraine, there is no special national scale when celebrating this holiday; the tradition is rather intrafamily - do not forget to congratulate your loved ones and close men. Where to buy or order bookmark heads in Moscow
In Belarus holiday February 23 after the declaration of independence of the state it was named Day of Defender of the Fatherland and the Armed Forces of Belarus. The tradition has been preserved to congratulate close and dear men, all those who give a feeling of protection and strength in everyday life.
On the eve of this date, we hasten to congratulate all men on the upcoming holiday on February 23! Health and peace to you!
One of the most beloved Russian holidays is approaching - Defender of the Fatherland Day, which in fact is a holiday for all men - young and old. And of course everyone remembers that this holiday is celebrated February 23, being a kind of warm-up before the holiday of all Russian women - International Women's Day on March 8.
Defender of the Fatherland Day, which was originally called Red Army and Navy Day, appeared at the dawn of Soviet power, in 1922, on the fourth anniversary of the creation of the Workers' and Peasants' Red Army.
After the Great Patriotic War, the holiday received a new name - Day of the Soviet Army and Navy. Since 1993, February 23 began to be called Defender of the Fatherland Day, without, however, changing its essence.
Today is Defender of the Fatherland Day - a holiday for everyone associated with the army or military service, and it is celebrated not only in Russia, but also in most countries former USSR. In the Baltic countries and Ukraine, where today there are other priorities and their own military holidays, February 23 is also celebrated, but unofficially and with the obvious disapproval of the authorities.
The history of the tradition of celebrating the holiday of our army on February 23 is quite confusing, if not mysterious.
Soviet textbooks stated that on February 23, 1918, the first detachments of the Red Army entered into battle with German troops near Petrograd and even won victories near Pskov and Narva, defending the cradle of the revolution.
When historians began to deal with this, as it now turned out, a myth, it turned out that the hastily formed, poorly armed and hungry work detachments did not accomplish anything heroic that day, but rather retreated before superior enemy forces.
According to experts, the date of February 23 was chosen quite randomly, but gradually became overgrown with myths and legends, which allowed the holiday to take root and be filled with heroic meaning. And so it happened - February 23 is the holiday of all defenders of the Fatherland - current, veterans, and future, and therefore all boys, young men and men. And, of course, this is a holiday of women who dedicated themselves to military service.
In addition, the heroic victory of our army and the entire people in the Great Patriotic War played a role in the popularity of the holiday, so February 23 is also a holiday of veterans and “heroes of bygone times.”
In addition, February 23 is like an alternative women's day March 8, so that men would not be offended that they were deprived of the holiday. It is for this reason that in 2002 it was decided to declare February 23 a day off.
Today, February 23 in Russia and some countries of the former USSR is actually an informal national holiday all men. Therefore, girls congratulate boys in kindergartens, schools, gymnasiums and lyceums, students give gifts to students, women cover festive tables for male employees, etc. Defender of the Fatherland Day is also celebrated in families - and unlike Saint's Day Valentina, which is mainly celebrated by young people, before February 23, as they say, all ages are submissive.
One of the traditions of celebrating February 23 in Moscow is the solemn ceremony of laying wreaths at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Kremlin wall, which is attended by the President of Russia, the heads of both houses of parliament, the Minister of Defense, leaders of political parties, representatives of religious denominations, etc. After a minute of silence, the national anthem is played, followed by a parade of the honor guard company.
In the evening, state leaders usually attend a festive concert, dedicated to the Day Defender of the Fatherland. Also in the evening, in Moscow, in the hero cities and in the cities of military glory, festive fireworks thunder, and fireworks light up the sky.
Yes, anything. On this day it is not customary to give too expensive gifts, and you should not particularly strive for originality. Your friend will be pleased with a good perfume, if the relationship is close, expensive and comfortable underwear is appropriate as a gift, high-quality elite alcohol will always be useful.
Well, if we are talking about work colleagues, then T-shirts or mugs with original drawings and inscriptions with “military” overtones, various office supplies, postcards with military themes, etc. are suitable.
The holiday is also quite suitable for a romantic pastime with your chosen one. So, girls, feel free to grab tickets to fashionable clubs, book tables in restaurants, buy your boyfriends certificates for skydiving (let them prove their masculinity) and generally don’t miss the opportunity to have fun, especially since we’re all lucky this year with weekends - February 23 is the beginning of a four-day vacation.
***
From the fair half
Congratulations, men
Happy twenty-third of February -
Defender's Day. Hooray!
Let the press write about you,
There will be six-pack abs,
In the safe there are Sberbank shares,
And the car is a foreign car.
Let life be long, peaceful,
Your income is always stable.
Never fight
Tanks - only play online!
***
This holiday is for men.
We wish you together,
For no reason
Take up arms.
For peace and kindness
Were on the planet
Birds would sing in the morning,
And the kids laughed!
We sincerely congratulate you
Happy Twenty-third of February!
And on Defender's Day we wish
Always be proud of women.
We want to be an example for everyone,
We wish you good luck in your business,
We want to be the first at work
And be picky about your friends.
Don't let worries bother you,
Everything is smooth in the family, laughter in the house.
We wish you good health,
May success follow you.
