Defender of the Fatherland Day

When it falls

23 February every year, a public holiday in Russia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.

The Phala almanac gives the exact day for your own city; the lunar and solar rules above are what it computes from.

The story

The day was established in 1922 as Red Army Day, for the first mass enlistment of the Red Army in February 1918 during the German advance. It was Soviet Army and Navy Day through the Soviet years, and Russia renamed it Defender of the Fatherland Day in 1995 and made it a public holiday in 2002.

In practice it is the men's day, the counterpart to Women's Day two weeks later: every man, boy and male colleague receives a card or a small gift whether or not he ever served, and the wreath-laying at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier by the Kremlin wall is the official ceremony.

How the day is kept

• The President lays a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in the Alexander Garden; parades in the garrison towns and the evening fireworks salute in Moscow and the hero cities.
• Gifts and cards to fathers, husbands, sons and colleagues; schools hold concerts for the boys.
• Veterans' gatherings and the visiting of military graves.

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