Independence Day

Today was both Annunciation and Independence day here and the whole village turned out in their best clothes. A church service was followed by a parade of locals in Cretan traditional costumes and school children in their Blue and white outfits. The parade stopped at the Cenotaph to lay wreaths and then continued to the village square where it disbanded and everyone sat and drank coffee and wished each other χρονια πολλα (Chronia polla - many years - a traditional greeting used for all celebrations)

A brief background to what its all about!
In 1821, Greeks vigorously rose up against the oppressive Ottoman Empire which had occupied Greece for nearly four hundred years, embarking on the ultimately successful war of independence. Bishop Germanos of Patras boldly raised the Greek flag at the monastery of Agia Lavras, inciting the Peloponnese to rise against the oppressors. While the exact date probably was not March 25th, it did occur in late March and it was gradually associated with the religious feast of the Annunciation.

On this day in the Orthodox calendar, the archangel Gabriel appeared to the maiden Mary and announced the news: she was pregnant with the divine child. Bishop Germanos chose this day to deliver a different but not unrelated message: a new spirit was about to be born in Greece. The churches celebrate the Festival of the Annunciation with pomp, ceremony, and joy.