February 23. red calendar day

Today our country celebrates Defender of the Fatherland Day. The Main Archive of Moscow told how the holiday arose and changed, what names it had before. For the first time, the date of February 23 became a holiday in 1919. Then it was called the Day of the Red Gift and timed to coincide with the anniversary of the battles of the first Red Army units with German troops near Pskov and Narva. In general, the history of the holiday goes back to the day of the creation of the Workers ‘and Peasants’ Red Army – January 28, 1918. On that day, the Council of People’s Commissars issued a corresponding decree.

How Red Gift Day was celebrated

February 23, 1919 was celebrated in Moscow with music and performances. Artists of the theatrical and musical section of the Moscow City Council performed before the audience. Performances could be seen in theaters.

In 1920 and 1921, February 23 was not celebrated. Only in 1922, the Presidium of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee adopted a resolution on the fourth anniversary of the Workers ‘and Peasants’ Red Army.

In the same year, a new official name was assigned to the holiday – the Day of the Red Army and the Navy.

Five, ten and twenty years of the Red Army

In 1923, the USSR celebrated the fifth anniversary of the Red Army. We decided to celebrate this date solemnly. On February 23, a special meeting of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee was held at the Bolshoi Theater. Soon holding ceremonial meetings became a tradition. For example, on February 23, 1924, such an event took place in the House of Unions, and in the next three years it was again held at the Bolshoi Theater. Festive celebrations were organized in military units, enterprises, universities and schools.

In 1928, the USSR celebrated 10 years of the Red Army. The opening of the Central House of the Red Army and the museum of the same name was timed to coincide with this date. On February 24, a thematic exhibition of paintings by members of the Association of Artists of Revolutionary Russia opened in the building of the Central Telegraph on Tverskaya Street.

In the 1930s, on the Day of the Red Army and the Navy, physical education competitions were held for schoolchildren. Children organized skiing trips, one-day paramilitary trips, rode skating rinks and performed at stadiums, marched in formation with flags to marching songs.

On January 24, 1938, on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the creation of the Red Army, the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR established the first Soviet medal – “XX Years of the Workers ‘and Peasants’ Red Army”. It was awarded to active military personnel, as well as participants in the Civil War.

War time

The holiday in honor of the army became especially relevant during the Great Patriotic War. In those years, thematic exhibitions dedicated to the exploits of soldiers who fought against the Nazis opened in the capital.

In 1942, the exhibition “The Heroic Path of the Red Army” was opened at the Museum of the Revolution. In 1943, the exhibition “The Red Army in the fight against the Nazi invaders” was located in the Central House of the Red Army. In the same place in 1944 – 1945 there were expositions of works by the Studio of Military Artists named after M. B. Grekov.

After the war, February 23 began to be celebrated with even greater solemnity.

In 1946, the holiday received a new name – the Day of the Soviet Army and Navy. Every year, solemn meetings were held with the participation of the country’s leadership, as well as many events at the district and city levels.

New story

The current name – Defender of the Fatherland Day – appeared in the holiday in 1995, since 2002 this day has become a day off.

One of the traditions of the holiday in Moscow is a solemn ceremony near the walls of the Kremlin, laying wreaths at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The President of Russia, the heads of both chambers of the Federal Assembly, the military leadership, representatives of other branches of government, the Church, and leaders of political parties arrive in the Alexander Garden. After a minute of silence, the national anthem is played, then a guard of honor company marches in a solemn march. In the evening, fireworks are fired in Moscow and in many other Russian cities.

For most Russian citizens, Defender of the Fatherland Day is an important and significant date. Numerous festive events are held in the cities.

According to mos.ru