The Greek National Flag

Date

Adopted by The   1^st National Assembly in Epidauros in January 1822; and by  The Provincial Administration  Of Greece  in Korinth on March 15^th, 1822.

"Maps courtesy of www.theodora.com/maps used with permission"

Significance

   This is the official flag of the Greek Democracy. It has 9 horizontal stripes 5 blue and 4 white.  In the upper left hand corner is a square the size of 5 stripes.  Inside the square are four blue squares and a white cross.

   The cross symbolizes the Christian belief of its people;, the color blue, the color of the sky; and the color white, the snow-covered mountains, the white caps of the sea and the white skirt of the soldiers who fought the Turks for independence in the 1820’s.  There is another explanation which people consider more serious. It states that the white represents the innocence of the Greek people, and that the blue signifies their seriousness and  strength. 

      The flag is  commonly referred to as the“γαλανόλευκη”- “galanolefkey”, meaning the blue and white.

Historic and Religious National Holidays

Date

The Commemoration of:

January 1

New Year’s Day and St. Basel’s Day

New Year’s Day is of course a National Holiday.  On the same day the Greek Church celebrates St. Basel’s Day.  According to Greek tradition, it is St. Basel, and not Saint Nicolas, who brings the children gifts during Christmastide.            Traditionally in Greece, Santa Claus – St. Nicholas – is celebrated on the 6^th of December, as the patron saint of sailors.  

Epiphany

A national religious holiday celebrating the baptism of Jesus; the revelation of Jesus, as the son of God; and the Holy Spirit as the third entity of the Holy Trinity.  

The Three Priests

January 30

This is a national school holiday for all levels of education.  These three priests were very involved with religion, education,  philanthropic acts; and were fearless of the landlords.  

Καθαρά Δευτέρα– Clean Monday

48 days before Easter

1^st Day of Greek Orthodox Lent  

Foods for the fast  on a buffet at the school in the village of Soullaroi, Paliki

     Is a national religious holiday celebrated the day after the Carnival, which is always on a Sunday.  "Clean Monday" is the first day of fasting in the season of Lent.  Its position in the week would be synonymous with Shrove Monday in the Catholic or Protestant denominations; however, its religious significance is that of Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent.

     On this day the villagers organize a Lenten feast of           " foods for the fast" - unleavened bread, fresh green salads, fish egg salad, olives, cooked giant beans, fruit and wine.   They bring the food to a central place - the village square or the school, and arrange it as a buffet; then, all of the villagers eat together.  After the meal, they socialize and dance until the early evening.

The Greek Revolution Against the Turks

  March 25,

Beginning of the Revolution 1821   

            The Greek Revolution against the Turks began on March 25, 1821 at Saint Laura with the blessing of the revolutionists, their arms, and the Banner of Battle - the flag -  by Bishop Palaion Patron Germanos.                         

The Virgin Mary receiving Gabriel’s message.

  An historic holiday, commemorating the beginning of the revolution against the Turks - Ottoman Empire- on March 25, 1821.  The Greeks won their freedom from the Ottoman Empire, the Turks, on May 7, 1832 with the signing of the Treaty of London.

  This is also a national religious holiday commemorating the Virgin Mary’s reception of Gabriel’s message    stating that she was with-child;  a child who would be the Savior of the world.

Easter Monday

The day after Easter

     Easter Monday is a   national holiday. As a religious holiday it is called the Day of Love.

Assumption  Day

August  15

A national religious holiday commemorating the falling asleep of the Virgin Mary.  

ΟΧΙ !  DAY

October  28, 1940

The soldier, of the Kilted Greek Regiment.  on the right, is a young man from Lixouri, Kefalonia.

These soldiers are named  Τσολιάς -  Cholias

  On this date the Greek Prime Minster, John Metaxas, received a letter from Bonito Mussolini, which basically stated….

The deadline has arrived; I want Greek soil, so that the Italian army can pass through Greece.  But, Prime Minister Metaxas thunderously stated, «ΟΧΙ»,

(  NO! )

His response, of course, led Greece into war with Italy and then with Germany.  This day has since been known as «ΟΧΙ Day».  

National Commemorative Day

Polytechneio

November

17, 1973

   This is not a full National Holiday; only the universities and schools are closed.  It is in commemoration of the students who were killed at the time the tanks of the Dictatorship of George Papadopoulos crashed into the Polytechnic Institute of Athens, where the students fighting against the dictatorship had sought asylum.

Christmas Day

December  25

  A national religious holiday celebrating the birth of Jesus.  

The Day After Christmas

December  26

   This is a national holiday.

Public Holidays of Kefalonia

See History of Kefalonia

Saint Haralabos Day

  February 10

     Saint Haralobos is the patron saint of Lixouri.  He helped in the time of the plague by giving assistance to the poor and ill.  It is said that he played a large roll in stamping out the plague.  This date is a public holiday for the municipality of Paliki.

Independence Day

of the Ionian Islands

May 21

The flag of the United States of the Ionian Sea, under the protection of England.

      The Rizospastes, the group which lead the people of the 7 islands into revolt to free themselves from British rule and unite with unoccupied, free Greece.

   This picture symbolizes the union of the Seven Islands with the Free State of Greece.

  The seven women represent the Seven Islands.

  This date commemorates the day on which the Ionian Islands were united with the Free State of Greece. On this day, Saturday May 21, 1864, at 12:00 noon, the British sailed away from the Ionian Islands; thus making the dream of the Kefalonians and the inhabitants of the Ionian Islands, a reality.

   To secure this freedom, three Kefalonians:  

Elias Zerbos, Joseph Manferatos and Gerosimos Livadas, organized and led the peoples revolt. See a Brief History of Kefalonian.

After much blood shed and persecution, the people of the Seven Islands won their freedom from Britain.

     The Ionian Islands are: Kerkyra (Corfu), Lefkada, Paxos, Kefalonia, Ithaca, Zakinthos and Kythera.  They are referred to as the Seven Islands.

 This is a Public Holiday for all of the Seven Islands.

 In 1863, the people created a painting to signify the uniting of the Ionian Islands with Free Greece.

See History of Kefalonia

Saint Gerasimos Day

 October 20

 New Jerusalem Nunnery at Community Omalon

Below:

     Saint Gerasimos                     'Αγιος Γεράσιμος

   Saint Gerosimos is the Patron Saint of Kefalonia.  1507-1579; sainted in 1622.

   He was born with the secular name of Notaras in Trikala, Corinth.  Saint Gerasimos is known for his travels in Greece, Constantinople and Jerusalem.  He arrived in Kefalonia in 1554 and took the position of permanent priest in Valsamata in 1560.  The church of Holy Jerusalem was established during the crusades, cir. 1200 in the area of Omala.  There he made a nunnery, which he named New Jerusalem.      

  In this nunnery, he lived as a hermit - monk counseling visitors and creating miracles until his death in 1579.

  His remains were moved to a memorial on October 20, 1581.  It appears that due to this event, his name is celebrated on this date every year.  October 20^th is a public holiday for the municipality of Argostoli. However, people all over the island celebrate it as a very special Saint Day.