23rd February in Russia

This date is a non working day for Russians and the people working on the Cosmodrome enjoy a long week end which started already last Saturday.
It reminds the historical date of the first involvement of the Red Army during the Civil War in Moscow and Petrograd.
It is interesting to see how the name of this commemoration changed over the time:

• 1918 Red Army Day (День Красной Армии /Dyen' Krasnoy Armii)
• 1949 Soviet Army and Nay day (День Советской Армии и Военно-Морского флота / Dyen' Sovyetskoy Armii i Voyenno-Morskogo flota)
• 1991 Defender of the Fatherland day (День защитника Отечества, Dyen' zashchitnika Otechestva)

Whatever the name is, it does suggest the celebration of all people who served or are serving in the army.
Recently by a kind of extension or deformation, it also covered the celebration of "Men" in general (this date becoming the counterpart of the Women’s day celebrated on March 8^th in Russia).
As a consequence it is also currently known today as:

• Men’s day (День Мужчин, Dyen' Muzhchin)

The cards below on sale in Baikonur last Sunday reflect even few more free interpretations of this celebration:


But one thing is sure, don't try to find a crane operator on this very day at MIK site 31! :-)
May be also a relevant celebration for the happy few men that will soon start to baby sit CryoSat-2.

Whatever, let's wish all our Russian colleagues:
C Празником ! (C Praznikom!, or Happy Celebration!)