Ohi Day

Ohi Day (; Greek: Επέτειος του Όχι, romanized: Epéteios tou Óchi, lit. 'Anniversary of the No'; Greek pronunciation: [eˈpetios tu ˈoçi]) is celebrated throughout Greece, Cyprus and the Greek communities around the world on 28 October each year. Ohi Day commemorates the rejection by the Greek Ioannis Metaxas of the ultimatum made by Italian dictator Benito Mussolini on 28 October 1940 and the subsequent Hellenic counterattack against the invading Italian forces at the mountains of Pindus during the Greco-Italian War and Greek resistance during the Axis occupation.

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.