February 23 — Defender of the Fatherland Day: history, traditions, how to congratulate

Defender of the Fatherland Day is celebrated annually in Russia on February 23, a public holiday dedicated to the country's military history and those who guard its security. In 2026, the date falls on a Monday and is a non-working day. Read about its history, traditions, and ideas of congratulations in the Izvestia article.

Defender of the Fatherland Day – 2026: the history of the holiday

Defender of the Fatherland Day is celebrated in Russia on February 23, a public holiday with more than a century of history. In 2026, it falls on a Monday and is a non-working day.

The date was officially fixed in the state calendar on February 10, 1995, when the State Duma of the Russian Federation adopted the law "On Days of Military Glory (Victory Days) Russia". In 2001, the holiday became a non-working day, and in 2006 it was finally given the name Defender of the Fatherland Day.

However, the tradition of celebrating February 23rd is much older. It dates back to 1918 — on January 28, the Council of People's Commissars, headed by Vladimir Lenin, signed a decree on the creation of the Workers' and Peasants' Red Army (Red Army).

Already in 1919, the idea appeared to celebrate the first anniversary of its formation. The initiative came from the Moscow Council of Workers' Deputies, chaired by Lev Kamenev. They decided to combine the celebration with the Day of the Red Gift, a fundraising event for the army. The celebrations were originally scheduled for mid-February, but due to organizational circumstances, they were postponed to the 23rd.

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The holiday did not "take root" immediately, in 1920 and 1921 it was not celebrated. It was only on January 27, 1922, that the Central Executive Committee officially decided to celebrate the anniversary of the creation of the Red Army on February 23. From that moment on, the date became permanent.

In the following decades, attempts were made to link some specific historical events to it. In 1938, in the "Short Course of the History of the CPSU (b)", the version was fixed that on February 23, 1918, the Red Army rebuffed the German troops near Pskov and Narva. In 1951, official documents introduced a formulation on the mobilization of workers to join the army.

The name of the holiday has changed several times. In 1922, it became the Day of the Red Army and Navy. From 1946 to 1995, it was celebrated as the Day of the Soviet Army and Navy.

In 1995, after the adoption of the federal law "On the Days of Military Glory (Victory Days) Russia", the date received a long name — the Day of the Victory of the Red Army over the Kaiser's troops of Germany (1918) — Defenders of the Fatherland Day. And the modern name was fixed in 2006.

Traditions of celebrating February 23rd

The traditions of February 23 began to take shape back in the 1920s. During this period, the emphasis was on the ideological role of the army. In 1923, the first major solemn meeting was held in Moscow, dedicated to the fifth anniversary of the Red Army, this event set the official character of the holiday.

By the tenth anniversary of the Red Army in 1928, the Central House and Museum of the Red Army were opened in the capital, thus the date received an institutional content. In the 1930s, February 23 was increasingly accompanied by sports screenings, marches, and paramilitary events emphasizing the physical and mobilization training of society.

In 1938, on the occasion of the 20th anniversary, the first jubilee medal "20 Years of the Workers' and Peasants' Red Army" was established - an important symbol of consolidating the status of the holiday at the state level.

During the Great Patriotic War, the date acquired a different emotional color, becoming the day of public recognition of the feat of the active army. Thematic exhibitions were opened in the USSR, meetings were held, and appeals were made to the front and rear. In the post-war period, military parades, concerts and veterans' celebrations were held on February 23.

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In modern Russia, February 23 retains the character of a state commemorative date. On this day, flower-laying ceremonies are held at the Grave of the Unknown Soldier near the Kremlin Wall, at the Eternal Flame and memorials in the regions. Concerts, sporting events, and historical reenactments are organized. Fireworks are being played in a number of cities in the evening.

Who is being congratulated on February 23rd and how?

Initially, the date was associated exclusively with the history of the army. Over time, its meaning has expanded. Today, February 23 is a day honoring military personnel, veterans, law enforcement officers, as well as all those involved in ensuring the country's security.

The holiday has acquired a broader character in society: on February 23, congratulations are addressed to men, but women of a number of specialties are also subject to military registration — doctors, signallers, cartographers and other specialists. Their contribution is also not ignored. Izvestia has prepared several examples of gifts and congratulations.

Practical gifts for February 23rd that will really come in handy:

• a high-quality urban backpack with a compartment for equipment, a versatile option for work, trips and business trips;
• a portable charging station or a powerful power bank for those who travel frequently;
• a thermocup with a temperature preservation system is useful in the car, at work and on trips.;
• A table lamp with adjustable brightness for those who work late.;
• a shoe or clothing care kit, a useful gift that definitely won't be left idle.;
• a book on a topic of interest, a certificate for training or a master class, if the recipient's preferences are known.

Examples of original congratulations on Defender of the Fatherland Day:

"Congratulations on February 23rd! Being a defender means staying calm amid the storms of life and thinking about the consequences. We wish you inner composure and clarity in choosing the path. Let the word "Fatherland" be not an abstract concept for you, but the space of people for whom you are ready to be responsible — in your family, at work, in business! And may this responsibility never be in vain!";

"Congratulations on Defender of the Fatherland Day! Let the inner support be more reliable than any external support, and there will always be people you can trust! We wish that your strength is manifested not in loud words, but in the ability to hold a punch, maintain dignity and remain true to your principles!";

"Congratulations on February 23rd! Let your firmness not prevent you from being attentive to people, and loyalty to duty does not deprive you of the right to personal happiness! We wish that you always have something worth protecting behind your back, and goals ahead for which it makes sense to move forward!";

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"Happy holidays! Being a defender is not a status, but a daily choice. May he always be conscious and bring respect, first of all to himself! We wish that your confidence is based not on circumstances, but on an inner support that cannot be shaken by external changes!";

"Congratulations on Defender of the Fatherland Day! May stability become your constant ally, and confidence become your natural state! We wish that there were fewer situations in your life that required struggle, and that you had the wisdom to keep the peace. Self-control in business, clarity in goals and respect from those with whom you are moving forward!".

Earlier, Izvestia reported on the most long-awaited gifts for February 23.