2027 Defender of the Fatherland Day

Defender of the Fatherland Day on February 23 honours the armed forces and, in practice, is treated as a day for all men — Russia's counterpart to International Women's Day on March 8. It originated as Red Army Day, marking the army's founding in 1918, was renamed in 1995 and has been a public holiday since 2002. The President lays a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier by the Kremlin wall, and in the evening artillery salutes are fired in Moscow and other hero cities. At home and in offices, men and boys receive small gifts, cards and congratulations from female relatives and colleagues, restaurants offer special menus, and schools hold contests and concerts. Because it is a day off, it often combines with the weekend into a three-day break popular for short trips and ski resorts. This countdown ticks to midnight Moscow time on February 23.