Significance:
Defender of the Fatherland Day celebrates people who are serving or were serving the Russian Armed Forces. It has also come to include the celebration of men as a whole, and to act as a counterpart of International Women's Day on March 8.
Type:
Holidays in Russia
Celebrations:
Watching parades and processions in honor of veterans; women are giving small gifts to the Russian men in their lives, especially husbands or boyfriends, fathers and sons; women are giving gifts to their male co-workers
Observed by:
Russia and Soviet Union
Legal holiday in:
Russia, parts of Soviet Union
Location:
Russia
Synonyms:
Red Army Day, Soviet Army and Navy Day, Men's Day in Russia