Russian Telnyashka Day, observed in Russia, is celebrated every August 19. This unofficial holiday honors the telnyashka, a striped undershirt worn by the Russian Navy and other branches of the Armed Forces. The telnyashka, similar to a Breton shirt, is believed to have originated from fishermen in Brittany, who wore stripes to help locate men who fell overboard. Russian seamen adopted this garment in the 1860s, and it was officially recognized by the Imperial Russian Navy on August 19, 1874, under an order signed by Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolayevich and approved by Emperor Alexander II. Originally featuring blue and white stripes to represent the Russian Navy Ensign, various branches of the Armed Forces now wear telnyashkas in different colors, such as dark blue for the Navy and light green for the Border Troops. The day serves as a celebration of this iconic piece of military attire.