February 23rd ~ Defender of the Fatherland Day

My post from last year's Defender's of the Fatherland celebration:

http://amy-cornerstoneretreat.blogspot.ru/2013/02/happy-defenders-of-fatherland-day.html .  Defender of the Fatherland Day was first celebrated in 1919 on the anniversary of the mass draft into the Red  Army for the Russian Civil War, it was first called Red Army Day.  In 1923 it was renamed the Day of the Red Army and Navy.  In 1949 it was given a new moniker, Soviet Army and Navy Day.  After the fall of the Soviet Union it was made a state holiday in 2002 by President Putin and renamed (again) Defender of the Fatherland Day.  Officially the holiday celebrates those defending or those who defended Russia, men and women.  Unofficially, it celebrates men, akin to International Women's Day, celebrated on March 8th.  There are parades honoring veterans and women give gifts to men, husbands, fathers, sons and co workers.  It is often called Men's Day.  There is a saying, encouraging (warning?) women to celebrate the holiday, "As you spend the 23rd, so shall you meet the 8th."  There were no pictures from R's office this year, but I heard the female coworkers dressed as cheerleaders and met the men at the elevator with a cheer!  The gift this year was more practical, a gift car to the local sporting goods shop.  On the evening of the 23rd there were fireworks, of course, to celebrate.  The photos and video are from my kitchen window.  Russians LOVE their fireworks!