Defenders Of The Motherland Day
Defenders of the Motherland Day (Vatan Himoyachilari Kun) is a holiday observed in Uzbekistan every year on January 14th. Also known as the Day of Defenders of the Native Land, this holiday honors the armed forces on the date they were established in 1992.
Uzbekistan (Public holiday)Considered one of the largest and strongest militaries in Central Asia, Uzbekistan’s military was created shortly after the country gained independence from the Soviet Union. Although this is an important holiday in Uzbekistan, it is not a public holiday in the country. That means it is a working day and public institutions and public transportation operate on their normal schedule.
The History of Defenders of the Motherland Day in Uzbekistan
Before the Russian Empire arrived in the area that is now Uzbekistan, it was divided between the Khanates of Khiva and Kokand and the Emirate of Bukhara. During the 19th century, the Russian Empire began imperialistic expansion into Central Asia, and by the end of WWI, the country was under Russian control. On October 27, 1924, the Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic was created.
During WWII, over 1.4 million people from Uzbekistan joined the Red Army’s fight against Nazi Germany, but a number of them also fought on the Nazi side. When the Soviet Union ended at the beginning of the 1990s, Uzbekistan declared its state sovereignty on June 20, 1990. After the failed military coup in Moscow, Uzbekistan declared its independence on August 31, 1991. The following year, on January 14, 1992, Uzbekistan formed its own armed forces.
Observing Defenders of the Motherland Day in Uzbekistan
In the armed forces of Uzbekistan, this holiday is used to award medals to soldiers and to acknowledge their achievements. It is also a day when the military honors its own history with parades, airshows, and color guards. Although it is not widely celebrated among the general public, it is an important holiday in Uzbekistan.
Uzbekistan (Public holiday)
