The celebration of the Greek Revolution of 1821 (Greek: Εορτασμός της Ελληνικής Επανάστασης του 1821, Eortasmós tis Ellinikís Epanástasis tou 1821), less commonly known as Independence Day, takes place in Greece, Cyprus and Greek diaspora centres on 25 March every year, coinciding with the Feast of the Annunciation.

In 2021, Greece will be celebrating the 200th anniversary of the uprising of Greek revolutionaries against the Ottoman occupation in the Greek War of Independence, also known as the Greek Revolution.

An international calendar of events has been endorsed by the Greek Government to acknowledge this anniversary.

History of Greek Independence Day

In 1821, the Greeks rose up against the Ottoman Empire which had occupied Greece for almost 400 years, leading to the war of independence.

Bishop Germanos of Patras raised the Greek flag at the monastery of Agia Lavras, inciting the Peloponnese to rise against the oppressors.

While the exact date probably may not have been March 25th, it is acknowledged to have occurred in late March and it was gradually associated with the religious Feast of the Annunciation.

Feast of the Annunciation

On this day in the Orthodox calendar, the archangel Gabriel appeared to the maiden Mary and informed her that she was pregnant with the divine child.

From antiquity to today, Greece has lived through major historical events. The country was involved in many wars: Persian wars, the wars of Alexander the Great, etc. In modern Greek history, from 1821 till of today, two major wars Greece was involved in, were the Greek War of Independence against the Ottoman Empire and the 2nd World War. Every year, Greeks remember these historical events with the celebration of two national anniversaries on October 28th and March 25th. 

The Greek War of Independence – A little bit of history
The Empire of Byzantium ended in 1453 when its capital, Constantinople (now called Istanbul), fell to the Turks. Since then, Greece was under Turkish Muslim rule, and for the next 400 years, deprived of their human rights.
Over the years, many attempts were made by the Greeks to gain their freedom, but they were unsuccessful. From the 18th century, Greeks living or studying abroad got more organized and dreamt of the liberation of the Greek people and the creation of the New Hellenic State.
Finally, the Greek Revolution, or also known as “Greek War of Independence”, took place between 1821 and 1830. Greece was gradually liberated.

The Hellenic State
The first Greek state was founded in 1828 under the name “Hellenic State” and consisted of the Peloponnese and part of Central Greece. The first governor of Greece was John Kapodistrias who cut Greek coins, founded schools and orphanages and generally tried to help in the development of economy and education.

Note: Kapodistrias is greatly honoured in Greece till of today; also the Greek euro coin of 20 cents bears his face, as did the 500 drachmas banknote of 1983–2001, before the introduction of the euro.

Double celebration
March 25th, 1821 is regarded to be the starting day of the Greek Revolution, although according to historical evidence, the revolution against the Turks had begun earlier. The choice of this day is not accidental. The revolution was associated with an important celebration of the Greek orthodox church: The Annunciation of the Virgin Mary.

The Greek National Anthem
The Greek national anthem was written by Dionysios Solomos, a Greek poet from Zakynthos, in 1829.
Click here to listen to the Greek national anthem and read the lyrics here below

ος στην ελευθερία

Σε γνωρίζω από την κόψη

Του σπαθιού την τρομερή,

Σε γνωρίζω από την όψη

Που με βία μετρά τη γη.

Απ’ τα κόκαλα βγαλμένη

Των Ελλήνων τα ιερά,

Και σαν πρώτα ανδρειωμένη,

Χαίρε, ω χαίρε, Ελευθεριά!

Hymn to Freedom

I recognize you by the fearsome sharpness,

of your sword,

I recognize you by your face

that defines the land (i.e. the land’s borders).

From the sacred bones,

of the Hellenes arisen,

and valiant again as you once were,

Hail, o hail, Liberty!

Useful Vocabulary :
• η μαθητική παρέλαση (i mathitiki parelasi) = the student parade
• η στρατιωτική παρέλαση ( i stratiotiki parelasi) = the military parade = soldiers with weapons march in rows and war vehicles/ airplanes pass in front of officials.
• η επέτειος (i epetios) = anniversary = the one-day celebration each year after a major event
• η εθνική γιορτή (i ethniki yiorti) = the national holiday
• ο εθνικός ύμνος (o ethnikos imnos) = the national anthem
• η επανάσταση (i epanastasi) = the revolution
• η σημαία (i simea) = the flag