Happy Man’s Day!
by Habitus · 02/23/10
February 23 is Man’s Day in Russia, also knows as Defender of the Fatherland Day. In Habitus editor Joshua Ellison’s introduction to our Moscow issue, he describes the scene in Red Square at last year’s celebration:
February twenty-third used to be Soviet Army Day. They’ve kept the holiday as a generic celebration of masculinity, sometimes called Man’s Day. One quasi-official explanation goes like this: “All men and boys are praised as eventual defenders and helpmates.” There was a celebration in Red Square, near the ice rink where average-looking teenagers mindlessly showed off Olympic-style maneuvers.
The festival had a revivalist tone: not for the Soviet era, but for a stylized Russian folk culture with costumes, food, and dancing. A teen pop group in Cossack garb sent all the young concertgoers into a frenzied dance. In too-high heels and too-tight jeans, they made large circles and moved in traditional steps. Some of the rowdier boys went into the center, folding their arms and kicking their legs, half-dancing and half-sparring. Even though it was below freezing, a few boys took off their shirts.
Read the rest of the editor’s note here, or buy your own copy to celebrate!
For even more festivity, watch this video:
