Happy NO-day! - Go celebrate, Greece !

At 04.00 am 28 October 1940 the Greek prime minister general Ioannis Metaxas received an ultimatum from Adolf Hitler's Italian ally Benito Mussolini. Access to Greece or war. It is said that Metaxas' answer was a simple but clear: Ochi! (=no). The Greeks run to arm themselves while Ochi! Ochi! was echoing in the streets. A few hours later Greece was attacked by Italian forces, and the country was at war.

Maybe Mussolini thought it would be easy to concur Greece? Nooo. Greek forces managed to fight the Italians back to Albania. Mussolini had to ask Hitler for help, and German forces invaded Greece (after intense battles). Metaxas' no followed by the hard resistance by the Greeks, might have been the reason that Hitler had to delay his attack on the Soviet union till the winter. An disastrous attack for Hitler which led to the end of World War II in 1945. A war that caused the death of over 60 million people..

So, today is a national holiday in Greece. Schools and businesses are closed. There are parades and celebrations to honor that day when Greece said no to fascism and yes to democracy. Today is the day to salute the ancestors and remember them with gratitude, and the day to celebrate courage, passion and freedom. Go celebrate Greece! Honor your values, history, pride and joy! A very very happy NO-day to you all!

As for me, I will simply celebrate with some sentimental Greece - glimpses from last summer. I hope you will enjoy them!

Our Kavala in northern Greece:-) 

Pic taken by my gifted photograph-teen:-) Love it! 

A moment from last year...

Nea Iraklitsa, outside Kavala..

Have a wonderful evening, dear reader, and thanks for stopping by. Stay tuned for more Mumbai tales, after this tiny Greek-time-out:-) Ta ta!