Ohi Day

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!").

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.

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.

The word "όχι" first appeared in the newspaper Ellinikon Mellon () on October 30, 1940 as the title of an article written by Nikos P. Efstratiou.[[File:Ellinikon_Mellon_30_October_1940.jpg|thumb|Front page of Ellinikon Mellon newspaper with first usage of "ohi"]]

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)
• 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)

References

References

1. Δημήτρης Σταθακόπουλος. (25 October 2014). ""Alors, c'est la guerre" "επομένως πόλεμος", ή αλλιώς το λεγόμενο ΟΧΙ". Καλάβρυτα NEWS.
2. (25 October 2013). "Οχι. alors c'est la guerre". Iefimerida.
3. (2018-10-22). "October 28 Holiday In Greece - Oxi Day".
4. "OHI Day - The 28th of October {{!}} Η Μέρα του ΟΧΙ - Η 28η Οκτωβρίου".
5. "Ochi Day (Greece and Cyprus) {{!}} Research Starters {{!}} EBSCO Research".
6. (October 28, 2016). "Αγαπημένες ελληνικές ταινίες για το έπος του '40". Newpost.gr.