An expert on the Russian Navy listed the main traditions of sailors on Navy Day

Sailors have many traditions on Navy Day: retired officers can wear tunics and cutlasses, ships and ships parades in ports, and fireworks resound in the evening. Dmitry Zhavoronkov, an expert on the Russian Navy and a naval historian, told Izvestia about this.

Russian Russian Navy is only officially more than 300 years old, but in fact Russian navigation is probably the same age as Russia itself, our state, so there are a lot of traditions in our navy," Zhavoronkov shared.

In addition to all the well—known traditions — the solemn raising of the St. Andrew's flag and the dedication to the sailors - there are a number of other lesser-known customs in the navy.

"Navy Day is one of the few days of the year when a retired sailor can put on his tunic, officers take cutlasses, and their wives and children may well appear in public in a vest," the navy historian noted.

Zhavoronkov also recalled the origins of Neptune Day and the unusual comic traditions left in the history of the fleet.

"Until the mid-nineties of the last century, on Navy Day, a boat decorated in advance as a miracle whale fish came to the raid. There was a crew of various fabulous creatures on it, including Neptune, a mermaid and other sea creatures. And they solemnly presented the command of the Black Sea Fleet with a joke certificate for their service over the next year, until the next Day of the Russian Navy. Later, this tradition was gradually abolished, and Neptune remained in the navy as a Neptune holiday," the expert said.

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The holiday was established in 1939 on the initiative of Admiral Nikolai Kuznetsov.

Zhavoronkov separately recalled the celebrations in honor of the Navy, which delight "civilians" on the shore every year.

"Parades of ships and vessels are traditionally held on Navy Day. Traditionally, fireworks are fired in the evening. But this year, taking into account the danger of UAVs and taking into account the fact that fuel is now in price and for other reasons, parades have been canceled in some places, as well as a number of entertainment events," the expert said.

Earlier, Izvestia told about the history and traditions of the Day of the Submariner in Russia.