Ohi Day
| Ohi Day (Ημέρα του όχι) | |
|---|---|
| Observed by | Greece, Cyprus, and Greek diaspora |
| Celebrations | Family reunions, military and student parades |
| Date | 28 October |
| Frequency | Annual |
Ohi Day (/ˈoʊkiː/; Greek: Επέτειος του Όχι, romanized: Epéteios tou Óchi, lit. 'Anniversary of the No'; Greek pronunciation: [eˈpetios tu ˈoçi]) is celebrated throughout Greece, Cyprus and the Greek communities around the world on 28 October each year. Ohi Day commemorates the rejection by the Greek Ioannis Metaxas of the ultimatum made by Italian dictator Benito Mussolini on 28 October 1940 and the subsequent Hellenic counterattack against the invading Italian forces at the mountains of Pindus during the Greco-Italian War and Greek resistance during the Axis occupation.
History
Shortly after 03:00 am on 28 October 1940, the Italian ambassador to Greece, Emanuele Grazzi, departed from a party at the Italian embassy in Athens to visit Ioannis Metaxas. Ambassador Grazzi presented Metaxas with an ultimatum: either permit Axis forces to enter and occupy unspecified "strategic locations," or face the prospect of war. Metaxas is reported to have responded with a single laconic word, όχι ("No!"). It was later determined that his actual reply was in French: "Alors, c’est la guerre!" ("Then, it is war!").[1][2]
Following Metaxas's refusal, Italian troops stationed in Albania, which was then an Italian protectorate, attacked the Greek border at 05:30 am, initiating Greece's participation in World War II.
Later that same morning, citizens across Greece, irrespective of political affiliation, took to the streets, shouting "όχι" as they marched in protest.
As a result, Ohi Day has been commemorated annually since 1942 on October 28. Originally observed by resistance members only, it became a national holiday after World War II and continues to be celebrated by Greek-speaking communities across the world today.[3][4]
Presently, Ohi Day is a national public holiday in Greece and Cyprus, and is marked by military parades, church services, and community gatherings celebrating the importance of national sovereignty and resilience in the face of adversity. This is meant to foster a sense of unity and remembrance, and pay tribute to those who stood against fascism during an exceptionally tumultuous period in Europe’s history.[5]
The word "όχι" first appeared in the newspaper Ellinikon Mellon (transl. Hellenic Future) on October 30, 1940 as the title of an article written by Nikos P. Efstratiou.
In popular culture
- Kontserto gia polyvola (1967)
- Oxi (1969)
- The Battle of Crete (1970)
- October 28th, Time 5:30 (1975)
- Lieutenant Natasha (1970)
- Oi gennaioi tou Vorra (1970)
- The Mediterranean in Flames (1970)
- Submarine Papanikolis (1971)[6]
- The title track from Sabaton's Coat of Arms is about Ohi Day
- Greek-American Comedian Yannis Pappas & His Mr. Panos "Oxi Day" Routine (2010)
See also
References
- ^ Δημήτρης Σταθακόπουλος (25 October 2014). ""Alors, c'est la guerre" "επομένως πόλεμος", ή αλλιώς το λεγόμενο ΟΧΙ" ["Alors, c'est la guerre" "therefore war", or otherwise the so-called NO]. Καλάβρυτα NEWS [KALAVRITA - NEWS] (in Greek). Archived from the original on 6 January 2015. Retrieved 6 January 2015.
- ^ "Οχι. alors c'est la guerre" [No. alors c'est la guerre]. Iefimerida (in Greek). 25 October 2013. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 6 January 2015.
- ^ "October 28 Holiday In Greece - Oxi Day". XPat Athens. 22 October 2018. Archived from the original on 26 February 2019. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
- ^ "OHI Day - The 28th of October | Η Μέρα του ΟΧΙ - Η 28η Οκτωβρίου". I Learn Greek. Archived from the original on 13 June 2018. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
- ^ "Ochi Day (Greece and Cyprus) | Research Starters | EBSCO Research". EBSCO. Retrieved 28 October 2025.
- ^ "Αγαπημένες ελληνικές ταινίες για το έπος του '40" [Favorite Greek movies about the 40's epic]. Newpost.gr. 28 October 2016. Retrieved 28 October 2017.