Defender of the Fatherland Day: the history of the holiday, how to celebrate, congratulations. Defender of the Fatherland Day: the history of the holiday, how to celebrate, congratulations Musical card Happy Defender of the Fatherland Day

It originated in the USSR, then February 23 was annually celebrated as a national holiday - the Day of the Soviet Army and Navy.

There was no document establishing February 23 as an official Soviet holiday. Soviet historiography associated the coincidence of honoring the military to this date with the events of 1918: on January 28 (15, old style) January 1918, the Council of People's Commissars (SNK), headed by Chairman Vladimir Lenin, adopted a Decree on the organization of the Workers 'and Peasants' Red Army (RKKA), and February 11 (January 29, old style) - Workers 'and Peasants' Red Fleet (RKKF).

On February 22, the decree-appeal of the Council of People's Commissars "The Socialist Fatherland is in Danger!" was published, and on February 23, mass rallies were held in Petrograd (now St. Petersburg), Moscow and other cities of the country, at which workers were urged to defend their Fatherland from the advancing German troops . This day was marked by the mass entry of volunteers into the Red Army and the beginning of the formation of its detachments and units.

On January 10, 1919, the chairman of the Higher Military Inspectorate of the Red Army, Nikolai Podvoisky, sent a proposal to the Presidium of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee (VTsIK) to celebrate the anniversary of the creation of the Red Army, timing the celebration to the nearest Sunday before or after January 28. However, due to the late submission of the application, no decision was made.

Then the Moscow Soviet took the initiative to celebrate the first anniversary of the Red Army. On January 24, 1919, the presidium, which at that time was headed by Lev Kamenev, decided to coincide with these celebrations on the day of the Red Gift, held to collect material and money for the Red Army.

Under the All-Russian Central Executive Committee, the Central Committee was created to organize the celebration of the anniversary of the Red Army and the Red Gift Day, which scheduled the celebrations for Sunday, February 23. On February 5, Pravda and other newspapers published the following information: "The organization of the Red Gift Day throughout Russia has been postponed to February 23. On this day, the celebration of the anniversary of the creation of the Red Army, which will be celebrated on January 28, will be organized in cities and at the front."

On February 23, 1919, the citizens of Russia celebrated the anniversary of the Red Army for the first time, but this day was not celebrated either in 1920 or in 1921.

On January 27, 1922, the Presidium of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee published a resolution on the fourth anniversary of the Red Army, which stated: "In accordance with the resolution of the IX All-Russian Congress of Soviets on the Red Army, the Presidium of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee draws the attention of the executive committees to the upcoming anniversary of the creation of the Red Army (February 23)."

The chairman of the Revolutionary Military Council, Lev Trotsky, arranged a military parade on Red Square that day, thus laying the foundation for the tradition of an annual nationwide celebration.

In 1923, the fifth anniversary of the Red Army was widely celebrated. The decision of the Presidium of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee, adopted on January 18, 1923, stated: "On February 23, 1923, the Red Army will celebrate the 5th anniversary of its existence. On this day, five years ago, the Decree of the Council of People's Commissars of January 28 of the same the year that laid the foundation for the Workers' and Peasants' Red Army, the stronghold of the proletarian dictatorship."

The tenth anniversary of the Red Army in 1928, like all previous ones, was celebrated as the anniversary of the decree of the Council of People's Commissars on the organization of the Red Army of January 28, 1918, but the very date of publication was directly linked to February 23.

In 1938, in the "Short Course on the History of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks" a fundamentally new version of the origin of the date of the holiday was presented, not related to the decree of the Council of People's Commissars. The book stated that in 1918 near Narva and Pskov "the German occupiers were given a decisive rebuff. Their advance on Petrograd was suspended. The day of the rebuff to the troops of German imperialism - February 23, became the birthday of the young Red Army."

Later, in the order of the People's Commissar of Defense of the USSR dated February 23, 1942, the wording was slightly changed: "The young detachments of the Red Army, who entered the war for the first time, utterly defeated the German invaders near Pskov and Narva on February 23, 1918. That is why February 23 was declared the day birth of the Red Army.

In 1951, another interpretation of the holiday appeared. In the "History of the Civil War in the USSR" it was indicated that in 1919 the first anniversary of the Red Army was celebrated "on the memorable day of the mobilization of workers to defend the socialist Fatherland, the mass entry of workers into the Red Army, the broad formation of the first detachments and units of the new army."

In the Federal Law of March 13, 1995 "On the Days of Military Glory of Russia", the day of February 23 was officially called "The Day of the Red Army's victory over the Kaiser troops of Germany (1918) - the Day of Defenders of the Fatherland."

In accordance with the changes made to the Federal Law "On the Days of Military Glory of Russia" by the Federal Law of April 15, 2006, the words "Day of the victory of the Red Army over the Kaiser troops of Germany (1918)" were excluded from the official description of the holiday, and also stated in the singular concept of "defender".

In December 2001, the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation supported the proposal to make February 23 - Defender of the Fatherland Day - a non-working holiday.

February 23, due to established traditions, has become a state national holiday dedicated to all generations of defenders of the Fatherland. Throughout their centuries-old history, Russians have selflessly defended the sovereignty and independence, and sometimes the right to exist, of the Russian state in numerous wars.

The servicemen of the army and navy of modern Russia responsibly fulfill their military duty, reliably ensuring the protection of national interests and the military security of the country.

On Defender of the Fatherland Day, Russians honor those who served or are serving in the ranks of the country's Armed Forces. But most Russian citizens tend to consider Defender of the Fatherland Day as the Day of real men, defenders in the broadest sense of the word.

On this day, a festive artillery salute is held in the hero cities of Moscow, St. Petersburg, Volgograd, Novorossiysk, Tula, Sevastopol, Smolensk and Murmansk, as well as in cities where the headquarters of military districts, fleets, combined arms armies and the Caspian Flotilla are deployed.

The material was prepared on the basis of information from RIA Novosti and open sources

We celebrate Defender of the Fatherland Day on February 23rd. On this day, it is customary to congratulate all men and glorify such qualities of the strong half of humanity as courage, fortitude and courage. Previously, this day was called the Day of the Soviet Army and Navy. There are different theories about the origin of this holiday, which historians argue to this day.

Why do we celebrate Defender of the Fatherland Day on February 23

The roots of this holiday date go back to 1918 during the First World War, since it was at that time that the decrees on the creation of the Workers 'and Peasants' Red Army (RKKA) and the Workers 'and Peasants' Red Fleet (RKKF) were signed. The young Soviet state needed an army for defense.

The Red Army was founded on January 28, and the RKKF on February 11. Another important event is connected with the date of February 23 - on this day the Red Army won a major victory over the German troops near Pskov and Narva. But some historians have questioned this fact, including it in the category of fables, since there is no documentary evidence for this.

References to this battle began to appear much later. The year 1922 was marked by the signing of the Decree on the solemn celebration on February 23 of the fourth anniversary of the creation of the Red Army.

In 1923, a pompous celebration of the fifth anniversary of the Red Army took place. After that, a large-scale national holiday began to be celebrated annually on February 23.

In 1946, the holiday was renamed the Day of the Soviet Army and Navy.

In 1995 the State Duma Russian Federation accepted the federal law"On the days of military glory of Russia". This law established February 23 as "The Day of the Victory of the Red Army over the Kaiser's troops of Germany in 1918 - Defender of the Fatherland Day."

However, already in 2002, February 23 was renamed Defender of the Fatherland Day, the day received the status of an official holiday.

Thus, years later, the connection with the victory of the Red Army over the Kaiser troops on February 23, 1918 was excluded from the description of the holiday, as a fact that did not correspond to reality. Takova Short story holiday on February 23.

How 23 February is celebrated in Russia

In Russia and other states of the former Soviet Union, February 23 has long lost its political and military overtones. Nowadays, on this day, it is customary to congratulate men of all ages. Women present souvenirs to their colleagues, set the table with treats for loved ones, parents give gifts to their sons. On the eve of the holiday, store shelves are littered with so-called men's goods: strong alcohol, cakes, and various gift options. For example, tools, devices for hunting and fishing, etc.

At the official level, Defender of the Fatherland Day is also celebrated on a large scale - as a day of military glory - the authorities congratulate veterans of the armed forces and law enforcement agencies, military-patriotic events are held, fireworks are thundered, wreaths are laid.

Congratulations on February 23

Beautiful word - "Man"!

We love the husband in him, and we love the son in him,

We love you different - both weak and strong.

And in something guilty, and in something innocent.

You are often like children, and often rake,

You are just different, and so interesting!

Trying to change you is pointless, stupid,

To accept you by anyone for women is a science.

We miss you, it's very sad without you,

Without your love, a woman's heart is so empty.

Men, our defenders and glory,

Sorry for being wrong.

For your love! For patience! For strength!

Wish each of you to be happy!

Let there be less reasons for sadness

Which beautiful word- "Man".

Publications, 10:00 23.02.2017

February 23 - what is the day of the calendar? "Historical chronicles of RAPSI"

Alla Amelina, deputy of the State Duma of the Russian Federation of the first convocation, journalist, co-chairman of the historiographic community "Politics at the turn of the eras":

The seemingly rhetorical question is Defender of the Fatherland Day. But he did not become such immediately. It was originally called the Day of the Workers 'and Peasants' Red Army (in honor of the decree on its creation), and the Day of the Red Gift (as a kind of charity event, when the population, according to the Bolsheviks, had to donate gifts for the Red Army). Then the holiday for several years, until 1922, was forgotten. But in 1923, the 5th anniversary of the Red Army was widely celebrated. In the 30s, the name of the holiday expanded - it became known as the Day of the Red Army and the Navy.

It was then, in the 30s, that the interpretation of the events of February 1918 appeared as “the victory near Pskov and Narva, where the German invaders were repulsed decisively. Their advance on revolutionary Petrograd was halted. The day of rebuffing the troops of German imperialism became the day of the anniversary of the young Red Army, ”Izvestia wrote in 1938 in an article with the characteristic subtitle“ Theses for a propagandist ”.

People of the older generation remember February 23 as the Day of the Soviet Army and Navy, which has already steadily turned into a "men's holiday."

But ... The Soviet government ended its existence, the army became Russian. The State Duma of the Russian Federation of the first convocation in 1995, just on the eve of February 23, adopted the federal law "On the days of military glory (victorious days) of Russia", where the holiday was called the Day of Defenders of the Fatherland. Its official description read: "The day of the victory of the Red Army over the Kaiser troops of Germany (1918)".

Before turning to the story about the appearance of the current name of the holiday - Defender of the Fatherland Day - one cannot fail to say a few words about the historical myth that accompanied February 23 for many decades, including in the post-Soviet period.

Back in 1933, Kliment Voroshilov, at a solemn meeting dedicated to the 15th anniversary of the Red Army, admitted that "the timing of the celebration of the anniversary of the Red Army on February 23 is rather random and difficult to explain and does not coincide with historical dates." However, soon this date and these "theses for the propagandist" were included in the "bible" of the Bolsheviks - "A Short Course in the History of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks". The corresponding article appeared in the Pravda newspaper. The same version is included in the order of Stalin's People's Commissar for Defense dated February 23, 1942.

In a word, the historical myth received official status. It is quite clear that in those years he could not only be publicly challenged, but even be subjected to the slightest doubt. Meanwhile, it is enough to pick up the Pravda newspaper for February 25, 1918 (the same year the Red Army was born) and read the article by V.I. the refusal of the regiments to maintain their positions, the refusal to defend even the Narva line, the failure to comply with the order to destroy everything and everyone during the retreat; let alone flight, chaos, armlessness, helplessness, slovenliness (...) There is no army in the Soviet Republic.” It's about that "victory day".

It was this quote that was cited in an explanatory note to his bill by State Duma deputy of the third convocation Sergei Yushenkov (Union of Right Forces). That project consisted of literally several lines and assumed only one change to the law “On the days of military glory (victory days) of Russia”: from the definition of February 23, delete the words “the day of the victory of the Red Army over the Kaiser troops”, leave only “Day of Defenders of the Fatherland ".

This was not the first attempt by Sergei Yushenkov to break through the armor of the propaganda myth to historical truth. After all, just on February 23, German troops, without meeting resistance, occupied the cities of Narva and Pskov, and the Red Guards of Pavel Dybenko's detachment left their positions without a fight. It was as a result of military failures that the Central Executive Committee of Soviets of Workers', Soldiers' and Peasants' Deputies on the night of February 23-24 decided to agree to the humiliating conditions of the Brest peace treaty proposed by the German government. This is also stated in the explanatory note to the bill, which is notable for its publicism, which is not inherent in this bureaucratic genre.

Sergei Yushenkov, as a military man, painfully experienced the identification of February 23 with the day of glory of Russian weapons. As a deputy of three convocations, he repeatedly proposed to postpone the celebration of the Day of the Russian Army to another date. As options, April 5 (the battle of Alexander Nevsky on Lake Peipsi) or September 8 (the day of the Battle of Borodino) was proposed. In a word, Yushenkov wanted us to celebrate a date that really symbolizes the glory of Russian weapons, and not a myth created by the Bolsheviks to cover up their shame and defeat at Narva.

Alas, all attempts to change the usual date were unsuccessful. Moreover, in 2002, in the third State Duma, the deputies decided to make this day not just a holiday, but also a non-working one. And then Sergei Yushenkov introduces a compromise bill, which is what we are talking about. The document was registered on February 19, 2003. And it was submitted for consideration by the chamber on May 23, 2003, more than a month after the murder of the deputy.

Reported by Nikolai Bezborodov ("Regions of Russia"). By that time, the Duma's portfolio already included three projects aimed at correcting the law "On the days of military glory (victory days) of Russia." One (a group of deputies) was the largest and proposed to clarify the dating of the days of Russia's military glory and bring the wording of the names of these days in line with historical realities. In addition, the authors of the draft proposed to supplement the list with “undeservedly neglected military events important from a historical and military-patriotic point of view”, as well as to remove “some days of military glory that are not quite reasonably included in the current version of the federal law.”

The second bill was introduced by Anatoly Nikitin (Agro-Industrial Deputy Group). Its main goal is to bring the dating of the days of Russia's military glory in line with the chronology generally accepted in the scientific world, taking into account the transition from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar.

The last bill submitted by Sergei Yushenkov, the essence of which we have already outlined. We only add that the speaker, Nikolai Bezborodov (by the way, also a military man, major general of aviation) said that the Defense Committee fully supports this project, because, according to him, “it really sounds incorrect that on February 23, 1918, the Red Army defeated victory by the Kaiser's troops. This, unfortunately, is not historically confirmed. Moreover, in almost all the reviews of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation received by the relevant Committee, the draft law was recommended for adoption. But the Government of the Russian Federation did not support him - however, for quite formal and technical reasons.

Strictly speaking, all three bills on amendments and additions to the federal law "On the days of military glory (victory days) of Russia" were not alternative, since they did not contradict each other, but only complemented each other. Nevertheless, the deputies decided to hold a rating vote. According to its results, Anatoly Nikitin's bill won an absolute victory - 357 votes in favor.

But the initiative of Sergei Yushenkov received minimal support of only 40 votes. And the holiday of February 23 remained in our law as the day of a non-existent victory over the troops of Kaiser Germany for another three years. Only in March 2006, the State Duma decided to exclude from the official description of the holiday the words "Day of the victory of the Red Army over the Kaiser troops of Germany (1918)". At the same time, the word “defender” in the singular appeared in its name (unlike the previous version, which read “defenders”). The latter is due to the fact that by that time the day of February 23 was already so called in Labor Code RF.

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February 23 - the favorite holiday of men and the day to which loving women start preparing almost immediately after new year holidays. However, when receiving gifts, few of the representatives of the stronger sex think about where this important holiday came from and why it is celebrated in cold February.

Red Army Day

The birth of the holiday is usually associated with the Decree on the Workers 'and Peasants' Red Army. However, historians claim that this document was adopted on January 15, 1918. 20 million rubles were allocated for the creation of the army, which at that time was considered a huge amount.

Complete confusion reigned at the front - no one really could understand for whom it was now necessary to fight and whether it was worth risking their lives at all. The government of the new Soviet state tried with great effort to form an army, but this process was very tense. The first point for the recruitment of volunteers was opened on February 21 in Petrograd. With a call to join the new army defending the Socialist Fatherland, the leader of the Soviet state spoke. The Red Army was assembled, but historians still argue about the significance of the first victories.

The anniversary of the Red Army was planned to be celebrated on the day the decree was signed, then they wanted to set the date for the celebration on February 17, but in the end they appointed the holiday on Sunday, which fell that year on February 23. For unknown reasons, the military holiday was for some reason forgotten for several years. And the solemn resurrection of the holiday date took place in 1922. At the end of January of that year, the Presidium of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee issued a decree on celebrating the fourth anniversary of the birth of the Red Army, and a year later the holiday was widely celebrated throughout the country under a new name - Red Army Day, approved by the Revolutionary Military Council of the Republic.

The meaning of February 23 in the USSR

In 1938, the “Short Course in the History of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks” was published, written by Joseph Stalin. The stern leader never once mentioned Lenin's Decree. The authorities surrounded this date with myths about the first significant successes, claiming that on February 23, 1918, the Red Army won decisive victories near Narva and Pskov. In all likelihood, this was how they tried to destroy the facts of defeats and the signing of the German ultimatum.

Since 1946, the holiday, beloved by the inhabitants of a vast country, has been called the Day of the Soviet Army and Navy. Traditionally, on this day, all the military were honored, to which almost every citizen could attribute himself after the war. Gradually, they began to congratulate all men on the holiday, even those who had never served in the army.

History of Defender of the Fatherland Day in modern Russia

In 1995, the State Duma adopted the Law on the Days of Military Glory in Russia. By this decree, February 23 acquired a new name - the Day of the victory of the Red Army over the Kaiser troops of Germany in 1918 - Defender of the Fatherland Day. However, this long name, which did not correspond well to the actual facts, lasted only a few years.

In 2002, the State Duma adopted a resolution renaming February 23 as Defender of the Fatherland Day and declared it a non-working day. By this decree, the connection with the victories of the Red Army over the Kaiser's troops was erased from the description of the holiday, as a fact that does not correspond to reality.

Modern Defender of the Fatherland Day is not devoid of military overtones, but now its scope is not limited to the military. Today this holiday is considered by everyone who has anything to do with protecting the country or their family. This is a holiday of valor, courage, honor and love in the Motherland. On this day, it is customary to congratulate men of all professions and ages, including the youngest, who only have to once stand on the defensive lines.

We must not forget that among the beautiful half there are also many women who, risking their lives, protect their compatriots from various dangers and cataclysms. On February 23, not only men, but also women are honored.

Traditional congratulations from the country's leadership are heard on this day by employees of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, veterans of the Second World War and other military operations. Wreaths and bouquets of flowers are laid at the monuments of heroic warriors. Broadcast on television and radio holiday concerts And congratulatory speeches. In the evening in the hero cities, as well as in settlements, where the headquarters of military districts, fleets and combined arms armies are located, the sky is illuminated by festive fireworks.

Are you still going to celebrate February 23 - Defender of the Fatherland Day?

What do you know about the origin of this holiday?
What I will write below is very symbolic: even the “Defender of the Fatherland Day” in the Russian Federation is a fake.

Just like the “defenders” themselves, who constantly “defend the Fatherland” outside its borders, while according to the official version they are not there at all.

For false defenders - a false holiday. Everything is logical.

So, there is an opinion that February 23 was celebrated as the "Day of the Red Army and Navy", and later - the "Day of the Soviet Army and Navy", since on this day in 1918 the valiant red detachments won the first "crushing victory" over the Germans in the First World War - not far from Pskov.

It was this story - about the brave Red Army soldiers - that we were told in the elementary grades of Soviet schools.

But is it? Let's turn to history.

By the evening of February 23, 1918, the German army was 55 km from Pskov and 170 km from Narva. No battles on this day were recorded either in the German or in the Soviet archives !!!
The first clashes between the Germans and the Red Guards were reliably recorded only on February 24. The Reds were quickly and without alternative defeated, however, before leaving the city, they did not forget to do something more familiar to them - looting.
From the memoirs of the Soviet military leader Alexei Cherepanov: “... an endless line of carts and demoralized parts of the old army moved from Pskov to the east ... On the morning of February 24, tension reached highest dimensions. Robbery began, which hardly stopped. On the market (now Soviet) square, deputy. Chairman of the Council Kleineshehert, sent to stop the robberies, was killed by a group of pogrom-minded soldiers. The corpse lay on the square, people rushed past him indifferently in different directions.
It is not surprising that in St. Petersburg and the large cities of Russia, more or less adequately thinking citizens had high hopes for the advance of the German troops and liberation from the Bolshevik bondage.

Here is how Ivan Bunin wrote about it:
“In the newspapers - about the German offensive that had begun. Everyone says: “Oh, if only!” ... Yesterday we were at B. A decent number of people gathered - and all with one voice: the Germans, thank God, are advancing, they took Smolensk and Bologoe ... Rumors about some Polish legions, which also supposedly they’re coming to save us… It’s as if the Germans don’t go, as they usually go in war, fighting, conquering, but “they just go along railway“- to occupy Petersburg ... After yesterday's evening news that Petersburg had already been taken by the Germans, the newspapers were very disappointing ... ".

And here is the testimony of another Russian writer, Mikhail Prishvin, dated February 19, 1918:
“Today they say about the Germans that the Germans will come to Petrograd soon, in two weeks. Popik, without hiding, joyfully says: It will end before spring. They answer him: Of course, it is necessary before spring: otherwise the land will not be seeded, the last grain is chosen. Weakly object: Do you think the Germans will not take grain for themselves? They answer with conviction: They will take the profits, they will arrange us, it will be good for us and they will earn for themselves, this is nothing.

The only tangible success of the Red Guards in the Pskov military operation was achieved thanks to a terrorist attack ... excuse me, "military cunning." Already after leaving the city, the red saboteurs blew up the railway station, where at that moment there were both German soldiers and red prisoners of war.
The German command admitted that as a result of this explosion, more soldiers and officers were lost than during the entire 250-kilometer offensive on Pskov - almost 300 people. In addition, about 200 captured Red Guards, civilians, station workers and just bystanders were killed.

In the end, the red commander Boris Pozern writes to Petrograd on February 26 about the capture of Pskov: “The city was taken by a small force of the Germans. Our trouble is the lack of preparation, and also the fact that no orders can change the pre-prepared mood - not to continue the war "
So, we found out that on February 23 there was no glorious Soviet victory - on this day there were no battles at all, the Germans simply advanced deep into the territory of Russia, without encountering any resistance.

By the way, there were some funny things: “Due to the panic that prevailed among the Bolsheviks and rumors about the approach of the mythical German troops, the cities and stations were left without a fight even before the arrival of the enemy ... In Rezhitsa, the German detachment was so small that it could not occupy the telegraph office, which was still working the whole day” (Yu. Felshtinsky). If you don’t understand, in Rezhitsa / Rezekne, now the seventh largest city in Latvia, there were no battles with the Reds at all, just a detachment of Germans was less than the number of employees at the post office!

And on February 25, the “great leader and teacher,” Comrade Lenin, writes in an article - of course, in the newspaper Pravda:

“Painfully shameful reports about the refusal of the regiments to maintain their positions, about the refusal to defend even the Narva line, about the failure to comply with the order to destroy everything and everyone during the retreat; we are not talking about flight, chaos, armlessness, helplessness, slovenliness. There is no army in the Soviet Republic.”

The second popular version is that on this day the Council of People's Commissars issued a Decree on the creation of the Workers 'and Peasants' Red Army. Well, I mean, it's like a birthday. Corporativchik-with.

However, this statement is an even bigger lie, since this decree was issued on January 15 (28), 1918 and published five days later - that is, long before February 23.

Here, by the way, “the most honest Russian mass media in the world” also appeared in our country - it turns out that they were not born in Russia by Surkov and Kiselev, everything was much earlier.

In 1924, when the Soviet party nomenklatura decided to celebrate the “Defender of the Fatherland Day”, a photocopy of Lenin’s decree on the organization of the Red Army of January 15 (28), 1918 appears in the Military Bulletin magazine. slyly, they wrote: February 23.

Well, and like a cherry on a cake - a fragment of Klim Voroshilov's speech at a solemn meeting on the occasion of the 15th anniversary of the Workers 'and Peasants' Red Army (RKKA), in 1933:

“By the way, the timing of the celebration of the anniversary of the Red Army on February 23 is rather random and difficult to explain and does not coincide with historical dates.”

—
Well, why, why February 23?

Everything is traditional and simple: Russian slovenliness multiplied by Russian stupidity.

On January 10, 1919, Nikolai Podvoisky, Chairman of the Higher Military Inspectorate of the Red Army, sent a proposal to the All-Russian Central Executive Committee to celebrate the anniversary of the Red Army on January 28:
“January 28 marks one year since the Council of People's Commissars issued a decree on the creation of the Workers 'and Peasants' Red Army. It would be desirable to celebrate the anniversary of the creation of the Red Army by timing the celebration on January 28, the day the decree was issued.

His request comes late and is considered only on January 23rd. As a result, the All-Russian Central Executive Committee refuses due to the late proposal.

Nevertheless, on January 24, the Presidium of the Moscow City Council considers the issue “On the organization of a holiday to commemorate the anniversary of the creation of the Red Army” and combines the celebration with Red Gift Day - February 17.

Red Gift Day was planned as a kind of charity event, when the population, according to the Bolsheviks, had to donate gifts for the Red Army.
But since February 17 fell on Monday, the day of the Red Gift, and, accordingly, the anniversary of the Red Army was postponed to the next Sunday, that is, to February 23. The Pravda newspaper reported:
—
The organization of the Red Gift Day throughout Russia has been postponed to February 23. On this day, the celebration of the anniversary of the creation of the Red Army, which was celebrated on January 28, will be organized in the cities and at the front.
—
Then the holiday was forgotten for several years and resumed in 1922. On January 27 of this year, the decision of the Presidium of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee on the 4th anniversary of the Red Army was published, which stated:
"In accordance with the resolution of the IX All-Russian Congress of Soviets on the Red Army, the Presidium of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee draws the attention of the executive committees to the upcoming anniversary of the creation of the Red Army (February 23)"

talking in simple terms February 23rd is a GENERALLY RANDOM DATE, the closest public holiday to ANOTHER RANDOM DATE (Red Gift Day).

However, when the Soviet/Russian propagandists needed something to celebrate, they did not bother not only to think, but even to look into the archives and newspapers four years ago.

Because a Russian man and after the fact is grabbing everything - the main thing is to grab a telephone, a telegraph and a TV.

Are you still going to celebrate February 23 - the false holiday of the empire of lies? A holiday of murderers, occupiers and terrorists?
- Near Kiev, Antonina Dvoryanets was buried, who died during the cleansing of the Maidan on February 18, 2014. So that's why the war was called the ATO - what would be something to judge the patriots for? What is happening in Ukraine 16.04.2014