Fatherland Day in photos: How Russia, others celebrate
By Kevin Lilley
A woman aims a World War II machine gun at a military show during celebration of the Defenders of the Fatherland Day in St.Petersburg, Russia, Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2016. The day, celebrated in Russia on Feb. 23, honors the nation's military and is a nationwide holiday. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)
Russia and other former Soviet republics marked Defender of the Fatherland Day earlier this week with celebrations that continue to defy description.
The Feb. 23 celebration marks the first draft of soldiers into what would become the Red Army in 1918. What began as a celebration of military might evolved into a celebration of Soviet masculinity — women give small gifts to men, regardless of service history. The day was known as Soviet Army and Navy Day for most of the Cold War and became an official national holiday in Russia again in 2002 under its current name, bestowed by President Vladimir Putin.
All of the above doesn't fully explain images like these.
A boy dressed in a military uniform marches holding a toy Kalashnikov machine gun in Sevastopol, Crimea, Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2016, during the celebrations on the Defenders of the Fatherland Day. (AP Photo/Alexander Polegenko)
A boy dressed in a military uniform marches holding a toy Kalashnikov machine gun in Sevastopol, Crimea, on Tuesday.
Members of historical military clubs wearing Soviet army, right, and Nazi German uniform participate in the World War II battle reconstruction during celebration of the Defenders of the Fatherland Day in St.Petersburg, Russia, Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2016. The day, celebrated in Russia on Feb. 23, honors the nation's military and is a nationwide holiday. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)
Members of historical military clubs wearing Soviet army, right, and Nazi German uniform participate in a World War II battle re-enactment Tuesday in St. Petersburg, Russia.
Photo Credit: Dmitri Lovetsky/AP
Former Soviet republics celebrate the day to varying degrees: Ukraine recently stopped celebrating it, not surprisingly, and created Defender of the Ukraine Day (Oct. 14) in its place.
Belarus, on the other hand, appears to embrace the date — a boon to the nation's flaming cinder block industry, at least as of 2014:
A Belarus Interior Ministry special forces soldier demonstrates his ability to sustain a blow during a competition to mark the Defenders of the Fatherland Day at their training centre outside Minsk, on February 23, 2014. Belarus alongside Russia and other countries of the former USSR celebrates the Soviet holiday on February 23 each year. Following the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, the holiday was given its current name in 2002 by Russian President Vladimir Putin. AFP PHOTO/VIKTOR DRACHEV (Photo credit should read VIKTOR DRACHEV/AFP/Getty Images)
A Belarus Interior Ministry special forces soldier demonstrates his ability to sustain a blow during a competition to mark the Defender of the Fatherland Day outside Minsk in 2014.
Photo Credit: Viktor Drachev/AFP via Getty Images
There's also the matter of the special operations group wrestling match, which resembles a military mosh pit.
Belarus Interior Ministry special forces soldiers wrestle during a competition to mark the Defenders of the Fatherland Day at their training centre outside Minsk, on February 23, 2014. Belarus alongside Russia and other countries of the former USSR celebrates the Soviet holiday on February 23 each year. Following the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, the holiday was given its current name in 2002 by Russian President Vladimir Putin. AFP PHOTO/VIKTOR DRACHEV (Photo credit should read VIKTOR DRACHEV/AFP/Getty Images)
Belarus Interior Ministry special forces soldiers wrestle outside Minsk on Feb. 23, 2014.
Photo Credit: Viktor Drachev/AFP via Getty Images
Belarus also appears to inject the spirit of competition into its spectacle, as evidenced by what appears to be a militarized version of a middle school "field day."
A Belarus Interior Ministry special forces officer encourages his soldier during a competition to mark the Defenders of the Fatherland Day at their training centre outside Minsk, on February 23, 2014. Belarus alongside Russia and other countries of the former USSR celebrates the Soviet holiday on February 23 each year. Following the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, the holiday was given its current name in 2002 by Russian President Vladimir Putin. AFP PHOTO/VIKTOR DRACHEV (Photo credit should read VIKTOR DRACHEV/AFP/Getty Images)
A Belarus Interior Ministry special forces officer encourages his soldier during a Feb. 23, 2014, competition outside Minsk.
Photo Credit: Viktor Drachev/AFP via Getty Images
Not every event would fit in on the schoolyard, however.
Belarus Interior Ministry serviceman throws a beam as he takes part in a competition to mark the Defenders of Fatherland Day at their training center near the village of Okolitsa some 30 km outside Minsk, on February 23, 2013. Belarus alongside with some countries of former USSR markes the Defenders of Fatherland Day on February 23. AFP PHOTO/VIKTOR DRACHEV (Photo credit should read VIKTOR DRACHEV/AFP/Getty Images)
Belarus Interior Ministry serviceman throws a beam during a 2013 Defender of the Fatherland Day competition.
