✅ DIY army farewell posters, competitions for conscripts

Farewell to the service is a noisy event, but emotionally intense, because it is both fun and sad at the same time. And if you don’t want to spend this holiday banally, sitting at the table and drinking alcohol, then think about how you can organize it in a more interesting way. For example, you can make competitions in honor of seeing off the army, come up with a quiz, or an entire theatrical production. So that you have something to start from, we have selected for you options for interesting scenarios on how to send off a conscript to the army.

Customs and traditions

This event is exciting for absolutely everyone, because it is important both for the future military man and for his family and friends. Since ancient times, farewell to the army has been celebrated with a luxurious table and fun festivities. This event is family-friendly and contains many different celebration traditions.

Many years have passed and this event has changed significantly in terms of its significance. Military service has become easier; now they only serve for a year, and they are not sent to war. Despite this, the traditions of the Russian people themselves have not changed. Relatives and friends still observe them to this day and, seeing them off to the service, set a full table of various foods, say parting words, wish to go through the service from beginning to end and return healthy.

Interesting: If we look at the farewell from a psychological point of view, this is a special part when a young guy is given a positive attitude and helped to perceive his service as a special and extremely necessary mission in the life of every man.

Traditions

In the old days, relatives ordered prayer in church for the well-being of the conscript, but now the period spent in military service is not fraught with danger and is much shorter, and fewer people follow this tradition. But most relatives advise the young man to go to church before the army, take communion and confess.

Girls in the Russian army

The guy needs to take a pectoral cross with him, and his parents order a magpie for good health. There is a tradition that is still in effect today, and almost all farewells take place with its implementation. This is a kind of ritual with a bottle.

It is carried out as follows: the guests present sign a bottle of champagne or wine, saying congratulations and wishes to the recruit at the time of writing. The original message remains to await the hero of the occasion.

Upon his return from the army, guests will gather, and he will be able to celebrate his demobilization at the festive table, drinking from a ritual bottle with friends and family. The ancient tradition with the ribbon is not forgotten either. A recruit must hang a ribbon in his house before leaving for the army, and it cannot be removed until he returns.

Upon completion of military service, the young man, upon arrival, personally removes the tied ribbon. The essence of the custom is that in this way the guy leaves a small reminder to his family, and, seeing this attribute, his loved ones constantly remember the man who left for the army.

Customs

At all times, farewells were made cheerful, so that the guy being escorted to the service was in a great mood.
All relatives, close friends of the family and the guy himself, and neighbors are invited to such an event.
Female guests should not cry and be sad, because this can ruin the event, and is also considered a bad omen, and it will bring difficult service to the guy.
Farewells are not carried out in apartments, as it is customary to do them “on the ground”. Make them at the dacha or in a booth.
It is considered a good tradition to ask men who have already served in their time to organize everything.
The dishes on the table should be among the person’s favorites.
Also, do not forget about such a tradition as preparing army barley porridge. Treat all your guests to it.
At the table, the conscript must occupy a central place so that he can see everyone and everyone can see him.
The oldest and most experienced man should be the first to give a parting speech, especially if he has been in war.
Then each guest can say his toast and give parting words to the young man, wishing him a successful and easy service.
The mother should also make a beautiful speech, after which she must cross her son behind his back.
After completing the celebration, family and friends should visit the church and pray for the conscript.

When sending off a young man to the army, back in ancient times, parents hung a small ribbon or a beautiful rag on the front of the house. This bandage was a symbol of the son and was supposed to remind the father and mother of him. Moreover, during the entire service, no one was allowed to remove, rearrange or even touch the tape. The soldier had to remove it during his final return to his home.

Signs

Despite the fact that the majority no longer believe in omens, and gradually people begin to forget them, even now particularly popular beliefs remain. Even skeptics prefer not to neglect them. It is believed that during a feast a new recruit should certainly be seated at the head of the table. Relatives and friends sit down near him.

The oldest man in the family (grandfather, father, older brother) should be the first to give a parting speech. It would be good if he served previously.

During the celebration, attention must be paid to the mother of the young man. She must bless the guy and cross him three times. In some cases, other signs are also followed, such as putting a cross on the conscript’s neck so that he does not take it off until demobilization.

Sometimes parents cut off a lock of their son’s hair and make a talisman for him by placing the locks of hair in a cross on the icon. An undeniably important point is reading prayers for young soldiers. At the military registration and enlistment office, after the transport with the recruits departs, coins are thrown after them and those that hit the side of the bus are picked up and stored until the young man returns.

A guy must cross the threshold of a house before heading to the recruiting station with his back to the door. You cannot try on a military uniform before departure. This is considered a bad omen. Provided you comply with all the traditions, signs and customs used when sending off to the army, you can not worry about the conscript and be sure that serving him will be easy and interesting.

Good omens

Water the young man with water blessed in the church for Candlemas. This must be done with the words: “The Lord protects you”;
Send a young man to serve with a donated cross;
Throw a coin into a bus leaving with conscripts, and if it bounces back, then keep it - it will be a talisman;
It is a bad omen for a young man to leave the house backwards, but if he does the opposite, it is a bad omen;
If a mother, before leaving and during the departure of the bus, tells her son protective prayer words.

In ancient times, many young men cut locks of their hair with a cross and left them to be kept under the icon. This sign helped them return home alive and healthy.

What kind of gifts do you give as a farewell to the army?

During the farewell of a young man to the army, all present guests are sure to give him gifts. However, it is important to consider that the conscript will not be able to take them with him to the military unit. Therefore, it is necessary to carefully think about what to give to a guy so that he is happy with the gift, and can also derive some benefit from it.

The most important thing is a gift from your beloved girl. In this case, what is more important is not how much it costs, but what it will mean for the young man. A good example of such a gift is a small custom calendar on which a joint photograph will be printed. A conscript can always keep it with him, count the days until the end of his service and look at his beloved girl.

Another useful thing is a notepad or a notebook version. Such a gift will definitely be useful to a young soldier in the army. The main thing is to choose a complete set of notepad and pen, and it’s also good if there is space for a photo. Another good option is a pocket square, sewn by the hands of your beloved girl with initials or other interesting signs known only to them.

For friends, a good option might be to donate those things that the conscript will need during his journey to the military unit. An ideal example would be personal care products, razors, shaving foam, etc. For a young man who smokes, a cigarette case is a good gift from friends. To prevent any of your colleagues from stealing a valuable item, you can engrave it with the soldier’s initials.

What not to do

Before being sent to a military unit of the armed forces of the Russian Federation, you should prepare well. You need to collect all the things you need for the trip. It is not advisable to take an expensive mobile phone, laptop or tablet with you to the army.

If you have debts, you should pay them off before the farewell and, if possible, not borrow money from anyone before joining the army. You should complete and solve all your important matters at once, and not put them off until the time the service ends.

When leaving to serve, you should not quarrel or argue with your family and friends. The conscript's mood before this event should be good, and his thoughts should not be burdened by everyday problems.

If you have grievances against friends, it is advisable to deal with them before leaving for the military unit, so as not to torment yourself with negative thoughts later. A young man should immediately tune in to positive emotions. And thoughts about quarrels and conflicts with dear people can interfere with this.

It is highly undesirable for a conscript to collect the necessary things at the last moment. You cannot work until the last day before the start of the service. It's best to take a few days off so you can have a good rest. Such a mini-vacation before the army will not be superfluous.

Guests who come to see off must bring gifts to the conscript, and also prepare a parting text and words of wishes. It should be borne in mind that in the army not everything that his loved ones give him will be useful to him. Therefore, many gifts will remain waiting for him at home. Therefore, if you want to give a young man a gift that is truly worthwhile and necessary in the service, then you should find out in advance what he will need.

Scenario for an interesting farewell to the army

You can find or come up with many different scenarios for sending a young man into the army, but they will all have approximately the same structure. As already noted, according to tradition, it is better to organize a farewell to the army “on the ground.” Thus, according to ancient beliefs, the element of the Earth will contribute to favorable service and provide the young soldier with luck and strength. There are several interesting scenarios for organizing such an event:

Gather relatives and close people in nature, cook food over a fire and take ready-made food with you;
Organize a send-off at the dacha;
Rent a private house with all necessary conditions for this event;
Book a local cafe or restaurant, and you can invite the host of the celebration.

My son is joining the army, what to take?

In any case, the mother worries and worries when she finds out that her son has been called to serve the Fatherland. However, there is no need to panic or show excessive care, putting everything in the conscript’s bag that he will not need at all.

At the military registration and enlistment office, each conscript is given a special list of what to take with him.

You need to study it carefully so as not to buy unnecessary and prohibited things:

Toiletries - soap (2 bars), 4 razors, pre- and post-shave care products, toothpaste with a brush, several rolls of toilet paper, cotton swabs, antiperspirant, shampoo, and nail clippers.

Stationery - 2 thick notebooks (at least 96 sheets), 2 ballpoint pens and pencils, a proofreader and 5 envelopes.
Accessories - black, white and green threads with needles (it is better to hide the needles, since sharp objects are prohibited), shoe polish for cleaning boots.
From clothes - several laces, 4 pairs of socks and handkerchiefs.
Equipment : mobile phone, SIM card and bank card.
For food - only canned food and products that do not spoil. This could be cookies, refined sugar, raw smoked sausage, water, or some kind of candy. There is no need to give 20 cans of stew. There should be enough food for the first few days until the conscript is placed on allowance.

Important! As a rule, phones are taken away from the unit and then given out on weekends. Therefore, if you want to always be in touch, then give your son another simple phone that will always be with him. Just explain that you will need to use the phone carefully, otherwise the guy will have problems.

Medicines include Teymurov paste, patch, iodine and any antifungal agent.

You don’t have to put a washcloth and towel in your bag, because the unit provides such things.

You definitely need to take the guy’s documents - a passport, a military ID, maybe even a driver’s license and any certificate that confirms that he has some kind of qualification. You don't need to give a lot of money. It is quite enough if you give the conscript 1000-2000 rubles in small bills. If you wish, you can transfer the rest of the money to your son’s card.

If your son smokes, give him several packs of cigarettes with him.

Scenario for seeing off to the army

It all starts with receiving invited guests, presenting gifts to the young man, and seating people at the table.
Next there should be a solemn toast from the father or grandfather (the oldest man in the family) with parting words and wishes for the service.
Then all interested guests can congratulate the young man in turn.
The part with solemn toasts should be completed by the mother, who said a parting prayer.
The main part of the feast begins with the joint singing of army songs. It is best to perform army songs with a guitar, but if there is no musician, then regular karaoke will do.
The entertainment part of the event, in which guests are invited to participate in planned competitions or offer their own entertainment options: dances, poems, songs, ditties, demonstration of video clips.
The celebration ends with memories of the young conscript’s childhood, the guests wish him a happy service and inspire him to do good deeds.

Competitions and skits for army farewells

There are many options for competitions and stage entertainment for seeing off the army. The most successful of them should be highlighted:

“Strongman” – several pairs will be required to implement this competition. The man’s task is to take his partner and dance with her for a set time. The winner is the couple that can dance the entire song.
“Footcloth” is an old and very fun competition in which it is important for those participating to tie a footcloth on their leg correctly and at the right time. As the experience of conducting such entertainment suggests, not all people manage to do it beautifully, and some participants do not succeed at all - it all looks funny and interesting.
“Minefield” – to implement this competition, all participants must be blindfolded. At this time, the assistant places bottles half filled with some liquid on the floor. The competition participant is required to walk around the room, hitting as few bottles as possible.

Present

According to tradition, guests seeing off a new recruit bring him gifts, prepare a parting text and warm wishes. It is necessary to take into account: not everything that is given to a conscript can be useful in the army, therefore, if you want to please with your gift, it is better to find out his preferences in advance.

From a girl

A gift prepared by a loved one is very dear and pleasant for a soldier. There are several options for gifts from your beloved to your boyfriend for such a special occasion. A small notebook with a photo of your loved one or a calendar would be interesting.

When presented, the guy will be pleased to hear sincere wishes and congratulations, as well as promises to wait.

You can donate original stationery, which will absolutely be needed in the unit. Postal envelopes or a photo album will be no less useful. If a girl wants to give her lover a special gift, then you can embroider something with your own hands as a keepsake on a gift scarf.

From friends

A conscript in the service will definitely need personal hygiene products, since the soldier must always be clean and smooth-shaven. Based on this, friends can completely solve this problem by preparing razors, gels and creams for shaving and after. Funny congratulations or comic poems would be an excellent addition. If the recruit smokes, then an original lighter will be a souvenir.

From friends

It is best for all the parents’ acquaintances or close friends who were invited to a ceremonial farewell to the army to give the guy money. He may need a small amount on the way to the army or directly to the unit to purchase the necessary things. But at the same time, you should not take a lot of money with you, so as not to lose or attract scammers.

Seeing off to the army is one of the most memorable days for young guys, and how they went is remembered for a long time not only in the unit, but throughout their entire lives. Therefore, not only in ancient times, but even now, in 2018–2020, relatives should try to do everything to please the future soldier and create for him wonderful memories of this festive evening.

Games for army wires

There are also a lot of fun games for sending off to the army. It is worth considering the most popular of them:

“ Military crocodile ” - the participant, without using gestures or movements, as well as pronouncing words, must explain to other people the hidden word associated with the army.
“ Epaulettes ” is a dance in which two small paper napkins are placed on the shoulders of men. The participant is required to dance the entire song so that the “epaulets” do not fall off their shoulders. The winner is the one who managed to keep the napkins on his shoulders and showed the most interesting movements during the dance.
“ Army Morning ” - the essence of the game is to get dressed for a while. It is advisable for as many men present at the festival to take part in the games.

Army farewell posters

If a young man sees a poster at a holiday, which was also drawn with his own hands by one of the people present, then this will definitely lift his spirits. Such creativity is an excellent way to express your feelings for a young man on paper and make him smile and leave a valuable gift as a keepsake. Usually people draw funny posters with poems for the conscript, but you can also consider the option with touching images. Also, do not forget that having a poster at the farewell to the army is a mandatory tradition.

Modern traditions

One of the most significant stages in a man’s life is military service. Therefore, folk customs have come down to us, the purpose of which is to protect the conscript from troubles and adversity. Even today in Russia, people respect old traditions, along with which new ones arise:

Parents find out that a guy is being drafted into the army not at the last moment, but in advance, and they have time to prepare. Mother and father should atone for sins - their own, their family's and their son's. Still, guys who have reached conscription age already have offenses that require repentance. Parents need to visit the temple at least several times, and the day before sending off to the army, take the conscript with them so that he receives a blessing from the priest.
In ancient times, a young man, before going to serve in the army, always left one of his personal belongings at the well. This served as a guarantee that he would return to his native village safe and sound.
Today the tradition has changed somewhat. From the moment the day is determined when the conscript is escorted into the army, a ribbon should be attached above the young man’s bed (it is advisable to abandon the colors red and black). It symbolizes unity with one’s home and indicates that a piece of the guy’s soul always remains close to his family. Only a serving soldier has the right to remove the ribbon from the wall.
Bread can be the key to successful military service. In the morning, before being sent to the military registration and enlistment office, a special loaf is baked for the future serviceman. You can cook it yourself or order it. Before leaving, the conscript is offered a bite of a loaf, which he does with the words: “I’ll finish it when I return.” It’s clear that after a year no one will finish eating the cracker, but all this time the loaf is kept in a towel, like a relic.
You can’t do a farewell feast without alcohol. However, not all bottles of alcohol should be emptied. One of the containers with wine or vodka must be left untouched. Her etiquette is signed by everyone present. The contents of the bottle are drunk only when the serviceman returns home safely.

Recommendations for the design of stickers and inscriptions

Farewell to the army consists of many little things, for example, the creation of special thematic inscriptions and stickers. The most popular decoration options include:

Posters for the wall;
Cake made in a military theme;
Balloons;
Stickers on alcohol bottles.

It is not at all necessary to come up with a sticker, because you can download ready-made sketches on the Internet. Printing of posters is available in any modern printing center.

The drunk bottle of alcoholic drink is kept as a souvenir by the young man’s parents. Often the stickers on such bottles are designed in a military style, for example, they are made completely camouflaged.

As you can see, there are many options for organizing a young man to join the army. In any case, it is important to listen to the wishes of the young man himself and to know his preferences well. To do this, it would be a good idea to talk to his friends, girlfriend and acquaintances. If you manage to create a warm and memorable atmosphere of celebration, then the conscript will definitely remember this day in the best colors!

Life imprisonment

Ilya Repin. Seeing off a new recruit. 1879

Nikolay Pymonenko. Seeing off recruits

Peter I, who decided that Russia needed a regular army, approached this issue with his usual historical scope. They began to take people into the army forever. Until the end of life. And given the intensity of Peter’s battles, it could have come quite quickly. There were few hunters who chose such a fate of their own free will. Therefore, lots in the villages were drawn forcibly: this is how the community decided which of the men of military age, on average from 20 to 30 years old, would become recruits. In folk tradition they often said “in nekruta” - this is the word that remains in many ditties and refrains.

Nekrutskaya (to balalaika) “You are not cool, you are not cool” performed by K.V. Noskova from the city of Nerekhta, Kostroma region

Recruit choruses (“short little pussies about nekruts”) “Nekruta-nekrutiki” performed by M.F. Popova, D. A. Tretyakova from the village of Markovo, Vokhomsky district, Kostroma region

The military commissars of Tsar Peter had a lot of scope for corruption: Russian literature is full of stories about elders who “shaved the foreheads” of guys from poor families in return for the generous rich ones. For many years, this particular expression became a symbol of leaving for military service. Recruits literally had part of their hair shaved off so that draft dodgers could be immediately seen. And although this version of practically forced recruitment of a professional army had at least one plus (it completely freed the soldier from the Russian version of slavery - serfdom), the road home was practically closed for the recruit.

Recruit choruses “Sormovskaya bolsha dorogenka” performed by M.Ya. Volkova and A.M. Okulova from the village of Vetluzhsky, Sharya district, Kostroma region

He might never see his father and mother, or his wife and children again in his life. That is why the oldest songs about Russian recruiting are so unbearably sad. They are called “prichets” because those who performed them did not so much sing as they lamented: there was nothing special to rejoice at at such a send-off. “Recruitment is like death,” said the proverb of those years.

Recruitment rhymes performed by A.M. Koroleva from the village of Krasavino, Nyuksensky district, Vologda region

Recruit lament “Oh, you are sick and my child” performed by E.V. Kolesova from the village of Bolshie Rymy, Makaryevsky district, Kostroma region

Recruit lament “Oh, where are you going and my child” performed by G.A. Yarushkina from the village of Timoshino, Makaryevsky district, Kostroma region

DIY army farewell posters, competitions for conscripts

At the station you can meet chants, balloons, sparklers. . And at the entrance to the entrance I’ll hang: “(name) DMB 2012”, by floor. “there are so many steps left to get to HOME” and “We have been waiting for you for a LONG year.” , in the entrance, hang a count of the steps, some sayings, quatrains. Write on the apartment door: “Here you are at home. » You can organize a small theatrical show at home. . Buy khaki fabric for the room and make some kind of barricades and headquarters at home! Dress everyone you meet in a uniform, you can ask your friends who are in the naval corps, some in the flight corps, the girls can be nurses). You can buy mini bottles of alcohol, you know, 50 ml, whiskey, gin, etc.! Print out a photo of a pomegranate or mine and attach it to each bottle. Make a poster like: “the apartment is mined”, make a mine detector out of a mop:) put clues everywhere, let him look for it. You can also make rations: some canned food, like stewed meat. Tin mugs, spoons and hand them to him. Give your brother a test, hang the balls and let him burst them with darts. And then you can make a series of congratulations. Sing a song: (to the tune of “A soldier has a day off, buttons in a row”) Our soldier came home Buttons in a row, Everyone came to meet him And they want to hug him. I've matured so much in just a year, it's hard to tell! So let's start drinking for him, Let's start drinking, Let's start drinking,

Cool competitions and games to see off the army

Farewell to the army during the spring and autumn drafts of 2021 is an excellent occasion to arrange a memorable meeting for friends and relatives. This holiday can be organized in different ways - everyone can go together to a cafe, restaurant or entertainment complex, go to the country house or on a picnic, or you can have a party at home.

How to have a fun send-off to the army? Decorate the apartment with multi-colored garlands, flags and balloons, design congratulatory posters with the inscriptions: “One year until demobilization”, “Serve - do not grieve”, “Soldier sleeps - service is underway”, etc., organize game competitions to see off the army.

Recommendations for conscripts

By adhering to simple rules and advice, the conscript will easily get to his place of duty at the agreed time, without experiencing discomfort:

Things are packed in advance so that the last day can be devoted to relaxation and communication with loved ones.
Seeing off to the army is organized on the eve of departure to the military unit. You don't have to follow tradition and stay awake until dawn.
Guests are invited a few days before the gala event so that people can prepare for the festive evening.
Believers are encouraged to visit the temple to pray and take communion.
Expensive things and jewelry that can provoke conflict in the army are best left at home.

The combination of ancient traditions and modern signs will help the conscript recharge with positive energy and become more confident in his abilities. As practice shows, they will protect the soldier from troubles and misfortunes, and will contribute to the timely return of the defender of the homeland home.