Start Planning
Homeland Defender's Day
Kyrgyzstan

Homeland Defender’s Day 2024, 2025 and 2026 in Kyrgyzstan

In Kyrgyzstan, as in Russia and most other former Soviet Republics, 23 February is a national public holiday. Only, in Kyrgyzstan, the name of the holiday is “Homeland Defender’s Day” rather than the usual term “Defender of the Fatherland Day”.

YearDateDayHoliday
202423 FebFriHomeland Defender's Day
202523 FebSunHomeland Defender's Day
24 FebMonHomeland Defender's Day Holiday
202623 FebMonHomeland Defender's Day
Please scroll down to end of page for previous years' dates.

This holiday is a bit of relic of Kyrgyzstan’s past connections with Russia. It was first celebrated in the USSR in 1919 to commemorate the first big draft of soldiers in to the Red Army, during the Russian Civil War. Later, the date in Russia was moved a bit and the holiday’s meaning was expanded to include the founding of the Red Army. At first, it was called “Red Army Day”.

In the capital city of Kyrgyzstan, Bishkek, there will be a big military parade on Homeland Defender’s Day. Interestingly, 29 May is a separate holiday celebrating the Armed Forces of Kyrgyzstan, and Homeland Defender’s Day was only introduced as a public holiday in 2003. So, it’s not the only day to do with defending the homeland and has controversial roots, but nonetheless, the parade occurs every year and people continue to attend and celebrate.

Previous Years

YearDateDayHoliday
202323 FebThuHomeland Defender's Day
202223 FebWedHomeland Defender's Day
202123 FebTueHomeland Defender's Day
202023 FebSunHomeland Defender's Day
24 FebMonHomeland Defender's Day
201923 FebSatHomeland Defender's Day
201823 FebFriHomeland Defender's Day
201722 FebWedHomeland Defender's Day