February 23 - the history of the holiday

Everyone knows that February 23 is the Day of the Red Army, later renamed the Defender of the Fatherland Day, in fact, all the knowledge of the majority about the history of this holiday ends. Interestingly, this day became a holiday because of a big victory, or on February 23, was originally celebrated a completely different holiday, and then the story was corrected, and the Day of the Red Army turned out? In fact, there are two different views on the history of the celebration and the emergence of the 23 february as a holiday.

February 23 - a tribute to victory?

To accept that the history of the holiday on February 23 starts from 1923, when the order was issued, according to which the status of the holiday day was confirmed for February 23, and the name "Day of the Soviet Army and Navy" was fixed. The reasons for which this day was chosen for the celebration were several. First and foremost, this victory on February 23, 1918 near Narva and Pskov over the German troops.

The second reason is the imperfection of the bureaucratic apparatus of the young Soviet state. At that time, it was declared a holiday (not a day off, but a memorable one), almost every second day. After some of these holidays were forgotten, some merged, so from February 23, there was about the same story. Strictly speaking, the birthday of the Red Army can be considered January 28, 1918, when the corresponding Decree was issued. And on the day of the formation of the Workers 'and Peasants' Red Navy - February 11, 1918. Here these two memorable dates have united in the general holiday which began to celebrate on February, 23rd. Why exactly 23, because it would be more logical to appoint a festive day on January 28 or February 11? Logic is a good thing, but it was rarely used in organizing holidays, especially during the coming of the new government. The choice of this date occurred accidentally. A year after the adoption of the Decree on the organization of the Red Army, it was decided to celebrate the anniversary. But by January 28, 1919, they had not had time to prepare for it and moved the holiday to February 17 (this date also, apparently, was chosen arbitrarily). And a year later, these two holidays united with the Day of the Red Gift (agitation event) and began to be celebrated on February 23.

February 23 and March 8 - twins?

Another version of the appearance of February 23 as a holiday denies any victory of the army, but accuses the calendar of all changes. The fact is that March 8 was a public holiday for all internationalists. Given the fact that before the revolution, Russia lived on the calendar of the old style, this holiday was celebrated on February 23rd. Then the regime, and with it the calendar changed, and the habit of celebrating something on February 23 remained. And then the Decrees on the organization of the Red Army and the Red Fleet are coming out so well, so the justification on February 23 was found. It is thanks to the change of the calendar, we have 2 holidays known to the people as "male" and "female" days, and therefore they are so close to each other. Even later, there was another explanation for the holiday, supposedly on February 23, a brilliant victory over the German invaders was won. True, historians put this fact in doubt, on February 23, 1918, Soviet troops near Pskov merely repulsed the attack of German troops. And on February 24, the defense was completely broken, so it's hard to name these actions as victories. And if you remember that it was on February 23, 1918, that the decision was made to accept the terms of the "Brest Peace", then the version of victory becomes completely untenable.

But be that as it may, February 23 has long been a favorite holiday for all of us, to which we once again thank our men for their strength, and for being close.