ATH:
Oxi Day – Athens Honors Greece’s Defiant Spirit with Parades, Pride & Pistachio Cannons

The crack of military boots echoes through Syntagma Square as fighter jets roar overhead, painting the sky in blue and white. It’s Oxi Day, Greece’s most stirring national holiday—a celebration of the country’s legendary refusal to surrender to Mussolini in 1940. For travelers, it’s a rare chance to witness Athenian patriotism at its most passionate (and loudest).

The Backstory: A Single Word That Changed History

On October 28, 1940, when Mussolini demanded Greece allow Axis forces to occupy strategic sites, Greek dictator Ioannis Metaxas responded with one word: "Oxi" (No). What followed was Greece’s unexpected victory over Italian forces in the Albanian mountains—a resistance so fierce it delayed Hitler’s invasion of Russia, altering WWII’s course.

How Athens Celebrates in 2024

  • The Grand Military Parade: Tanks rumble past Parliament as Evzones (the pom-pom shoe-wearing presidential guards) march in slow-motion. Prime viewing: Syntagma Square (arrive by 9 AM).
  • Schoolchildren’s Parade: Heart-melting chaos as kids in traditional costumes wave flags on Panepistimiou Street (noon).
  • Pistachio-Throwing Custom: In Thessaloniki (but creeping into Athens), locals jokingly pelt each other with nuts—a nod to starving Greeks who ate them during wartime.
  • Free Museum Entry: The National Historical Museum opens its WWII exhibits, including Metaxas’ actual rejection telegram.

Where to Eat Like a Resistance Fighter

Post-parade, join locals at Klimataria (Mitropoleos 14), a 1930s taverna that secretly fed resistance fighters. Order:

  • Revithada (chickpea soup, a wartime staple)
  • Retsina from the barrel—the pine-resin wine Italians couldn’t stomach

Fly in Comfort, Honor in Style

American travelers: Skip the cramped flights and arrive rested for the festivities. PrestigeFly Travel Agency curates VIP Oxi Day itineraries featuring:
✔ Business-class flights with extra legroom for flag-waving practice
✔ Balcony-view rooms overlooking the Syntagma parade
✔ Private guided tours of WWII bunkers and resistance hideouts
Salute history in comfort—book at PrestigeFly.com