#oxi-day

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Greeks celebrate national OXI DAY with military and students’ parades (video)

With parades, military marches and wreaths Greece celebrated its national holiday known as Oxi Day, marking the day the country said “No” to the ultimatum of fascist Italy to allow the Axis forces to enter its territory and officially entered into the WWII on 28. October 1940.

The major military parade was held in Thessaloniki in the presence of the President of the Hellenic Republic Katerina Sakellaropoulou.

The event was limited to 60 minutes due to the pandemic and concluded with the impressive F-16 Zeus flying over the city and a parachuters show.

The traditional students’ parades took place in several cities. However, in many areas, especially in northern Greece, parades and celebrations were cancelled due to increased number of covid-19 infections.

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️️️️A great OXI-day to everyone in Greece. With the wish for all of you to keep on the OXI's and the resistance. ️️️️

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Sofia Vembo “Children of Greece, Children”: The inspiring song of OXI Day

Sofia  Vembo, the national voice of Greece during the Greek-Italian war and the Axis occupation. The singer and actress became a major inspiration for the soldiers fighting at the war front and for the people in general. Her most famous song that encouraged the Greek soldiers during the Greek-Italian War  and was “Children of Greece, Children,” written after the Italian attack on Greece, on 28. October 1940.

The song still remains popular and is to hear at every anniversary of 28. October 1940, the Oxi Day.

The lyrics were written right at the beginning of the war and became the most popular during that period.

The music of the song was adopted from song “Zechra” (1938) composed by Michalis Souyoul.

Writer and lyricist Mimis Traiforos changed the lyrics in 1940 and the title to “Children of Greece, Children!”

An unknown background detail about the song is that Traiforos (Vembo’s long time partner)  had originally written the last verse as “If you don’t come back victorious, never come.”

Sofia Vembo found that verse “particularly cruel and unfair” for the Greek soldiers fighting in the front and changed it into ”

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October 28: What is "Ochi Day"?

Every year on October 28, public buildings and private residences are festooned with the “Sky Blue and White” of the Greek flag, and patriotic and satiric songs are belted out at full volume at parades and other festivities and events across the country.

A national holiday in Greece, Ochi Day is also observed by the many Greek communities across of the diaspora, including major cities in the US, Canada and Australia.

It is a day of proud celebration and solemn commemoration, but what is all about?

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Young Student to Parade by Himself on Greek Island

A 9-year-old Greek student who lives on a small Ionian island will have the privilege of parading all alone on OXI day. It sounds like an oddity, but it is a fairly usual situation in remote island student parades every year in Greece on the celebration of the great national day.

The boy, named Tasos, is the only student at Mathraki’s primary school. He moved to the Ionian island with his mother last summer, after they both saw some images of it online.

Mathraki is a tiny island and a former community of the Ionian Islands. It is a 45-minute boat ride off the coast of Corfu. It has three restaurants that double as general stores, villas and “rooms to let.”

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The Oxi Day in Greece - Celebrations and free admission to sites

On 28 October, Greeks all around the world celebrate Oxi Day. So what is this day with the strange name? Here is some more information!

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Syntagma Square, Athens.

July 2015. Demonstration before the referendum on the new proposed austerity "package".

Photo by Aris Messinis/AFP

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Parade and celebrations for Thessaloniki patron to be held as usual

The parade on Oxi Day, October 28 in Thessaloniki and the celebrations for the patron of the city, Agios Dimitrios will ne held as usually,

The parade on Oxi Day, October 28 in Thessaloniki and the celebrations for the patron of the city, Agios Dimitrios will ne held as usually, Interior Minister, Makis Voridis, told state broadcaster ERT on Monday. He added that the parade will take place in the presence of all citizens, not just the vaccinated ones,

The minister noted that the parade will be held in compliance with the health protection measures and a strong recommendation for the use of the mask.

He also added that the celebrations in Thessaloniki for Agios Dimitrios will be held normally.