Greek Oxi Day is October 28th

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Oxi Day is a national holiday in Greece and Cyprus. It commemorates the day of October 28, 1940 when General Ioannis Metaxas replied oxi (no) to Italian dictator Benito Mousolini's demand to allow Italian troops into Greece during World War II or face war with Italy. Some say Metaxas' actual reply was "Alors, c'est la guerre" meaning "Then it is war," but Oxi! became the battle cry heard round the world for 70+ years.

Italian troops attacked Greece at the Albania border. The Greeks were outnumbered by the Italians in troops and weapons, but their courage and tenacity drove the Italians back deep into Albania.

In Greece, Oxi Day is celebrated with parades and a show of the Greek armed forces. Parades, celebrations, and the waving of the Greek flag can be found worldwide wherever Greeks live.

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