National Days
Play the Greek National Anthem
Greek Independence Day, on 25 March, and Ohi Day, on 28 October (which commemorates Greece’s victory against the Axis forces in WWII), are the two most important national days.
In Greece they are public holidays. In Melbourne the Greek community celebrates Greek Independence Day with a parade on the Sunday nearest 25 March. Community organisations and Greek school students march down St Kilda Road to the Shrine of Remembrance, where dignitaries deliver speeches commemorating the achievement of nationhood following Ottoman rule. Recent Greek History will give you an understanding of the significance of these occasions.
On the same weekend over two days the Glendi festival is held in the Melbourne’s Greek precinct in Lonsdale Street. Also on 25 March Greeks across the world celebrate the Annunciation or Evangelsimos, which is a major feast day in the Orthodox Church.
