Defenders Day (Ukraine) is a public holiday in Ukraine. It is celebrated annually on October 14th. On October 14th of 2014 then Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko issued a decree, making the day a new holiday: “Defender of Ukraine Day”. This was because of the Russian military’s intervention into Ukraine (2014-present) and decommunization in Ukraine. The Ukraine parliament approved the decree on March 5, 2015.
The Day’s Background
As the Ukrainian SSR, Ukraine was part of the Soviet Union from 1922 until they declared their independence on August 24, 1991. While part of the USSR, Ukraine celebrated a holiday called “Defender of the Fatherland Day” annually on February 23rd. Its origins came from the Soviet Union. Defenders Days replaced the older holiday – seen as a Soviet holiday. Given ongoing disputes with Russia over territory in eastern Ukraine and Crimea, Ukrainians no longer considered it appropriate to celebrate the original holiday.
Therefore, on the anniversary of Ukraine’s independence from the USSR in 2014, then President Poroshenko announced the country would no longer celebrate the holidays of Russia’s military-historical calendar. Rather, Ukraine would honor the defenders of its homeland. On July 21, 2021, the Ukraine parliament officially altered the holiday’s name (Ukrainian: День захи́сникі́в і захи́сни́ць Украї́ни) to explicitly include Ukraine’s female defenders.
The Day’s Significance
In Ukraine, October 14th is the Day of the Protection of the Blessed Virgin, also known as the Intercession of the Theotokos. Ukraine also celebrates The Feast of the Intercession on October 14th. Since the 17th century the mother of God as Ukraine’s Intercessor and Patron has become a firmly established tradition.
Since its inception, concerts, exhibitions, marches, and festivals across the country frequently mark the holiday.
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Info Sources: Wikipedia; National Today; Office Holidays
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