February 23 - Friday!
Day of Russia's Military Glory - Defender of the Fatherland Day.
February 23 marks one of the days of Russia's military glory - Defender of the Fatherland Day. This date was established by the Federal Law "On Days of Military Glory and Memorable Dates of Russia" adopted by the State Duma and signed by Russian President Boris Yeltsin on March 13, 1995. It was considered that on February 23, 1918, Red Guard detachments won their first victories near Pskov and Narva over the regular troops of Kaiser Germany. These first victories were the "birthday of the Red Army".
In 1922, this date was officially declared the Day of the Red Army. Later, February 23, was celebrated annually in the USSR as a national holiday - the Day of the Soviet Army and Navy.
On February 10, 1995, the State Duma of Russia adopted the Federal Law "On Days of Military Glory (Victory Days) of Russia", in which February 23 it has the following title: "Day of the Red Army's victory over Germany's Kaiser troops (1918) - Defender of the Fatherland Day".
Federal Law No. 48-FZ "On Amending Article 1 of the Federal Law" On Days of Military Glory and Memorable Dates of Russia "adopted on April 15, 2006, found that" According to the amendments, the day of Russia's military glory on February 23 was renamed the Defender's Day Fatherland ... ". It is an official day off. And, regardless of the name, this day was always honored by real men - defenders of their Motherland. Today, for some people, the holiday of February 23 was the day of men who serve in the army or in any law enforcement agencies. Nevertheless, most citizens of Russia and the countries of the former USSR are inclined to consider the Defender of the Fatherland Day not so much as the anniversary of victory or the Red Army's Birthday, as much as the Day of Real Men. Defenders in the broadest sense of the word. And for most of our fellow citizens this is an important and significant date.
It should also be noted that on this day they congratulate not only men, but also women - veterans of the Great Patriotic War, women-servicemen. Among the traditions of the holiday, preserved today - honoring veterans, laying flowers at memorable places, in particular in Moscow - is the solemn laying of wreaths at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier near the Kremlin walls by the first persons of the state. And also the holding of festive concerts and patriotic actions, the organization of fireworks in many cities of Russia. By the way, until 1917, traditionally the day of the Russian Army was a holiday on May 6 - St. George's Day, considered the patron of Russian soldiers. Together with Russia, this holiday is traditionally celebrated in Belarus and Kyrgyzstan.
1826 Nikolai Lobachevsky marked the beginning of non-Euclidean geometry.
1874 Patented tennis court.
1958 In Moscow on Poklonnaya Hill a monument to the Victory was laid.
1959 The first session of the European Court of Human Rights was opened in Strasbourg.