Defender of the Fatherland Day in Kukmor

Another festive event coincided with Defender of the Fatherland Day was recently held in Kukmor municipal district. Participants of the event learned that the holiday marks the date in 1918 during the Russian Civil War when the first mass draft into the Red Army occurred. Defender of the Fatherland  Day was given its current name after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Previously it had been known as Red Army Day and later Soviet Army and Navy Day.

The name of the holiday suggests that Defender of the Fatherland Day is meant to honor men and women who serve or served in the army, but unofficially the holiday is considered to be Men’s Day as opposed to International Women’s Day on March 8.