Кең отбасы аналарын марапаттау: Совет және Ресей дәуіріндегі дәстүрлер мен қазіргі жағдай

Soviet and Russian decoration honouring mothers of large families

Mother Heroine (Мать героиня, Mat' geroinya) is an honorary title that was used in the Soviet Union and now Russia, awarded for bearing and raising a large family. The state's intent was not only to honor such large families, but also to increase financial assistance for pregnant women, mothers of large families, and single mothers, and to promote an increased level of health in mother and child. The award was established in 1944 and continued to exist until the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991. On 15 August 2022 Vladimir Putin signed a decree reviving the honorary title.

The honorary title "Mother Heroine" was established on 8 July 1944 by Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet.

The honorary title "Mother Heroine" entitled the recipient to wear the Order "Mother Heroine", which was a gold star with silver straight rays between the arms forming an inverted pentagon; it was suspended by a silver plated ring through the suspension loop to a metallic, red enamelled scroll shaped mount bearing the gilt relief inscription, "MOTHER HEROINE" (МАТЬ ГЕРОИНЯ). In Tajikistan, it was withdrawn in 1996 to discourage large families. In Ukraine, it was cancelled upon independence but restored in 2001. In Kazakhstan, mothers of 10 or more children have since 1995 been awarded the Altyn Alka (Алтын алка, "Golden pendant") and mothers of eight or nine children have received the Kumis Alka (Кумiс алка, "Silver pendant").