February 23, 2010; Defenders of the Fatherland Day / День Защитника Отечества

Imagine Father's Day in military uniform and you have a rough approximation of this holiday. Since all Russian men are supposed to serve in the army (although it is possible not to serve), this day is technically the day of all men. It's history is briefly as follows: in 1918, just after the German invasion of the USSR and capture of Minsk, the Soviets declared a state of emergency and called for a draft in St. Petersburg. Ten thousand people signed up on February 23, 1918. It is interesting to note that most Russian histories still record these people as "volunteers" (добровольцев) while Western histories prefer the harder term "draftees" (призывник). The day was first celebrated in Moscow as "Day of the Birth of the Red Army" in 1922. It was made an official holiday in 1923 under the name "Day of the Red Army." The name changed again in 1946 to "Day of the Soviet Army and Navy." As the Soviet Union ceased to exist in 1991, the holiday's name was also changed to its current "Day of the Defenders of the Fatherland." Men are congratulated, given cards, flowers, and gifts on this day.