Greek Independence Day Parade

March 25th is the day of Independence in Greece. It was in 1821 that the Greeks decided to revolt againt the Ottoman Empire and -with the help of foreign powers of the time- finally managed to gain their independence and have a sovereign Greek State recognized in 1830. But the date 25 March 1821 is the (symbolic) day of revolt against the Ottomans and a National Holiday for the country, which conveniently fell on a Monday this year.

 Independence Day Parade, Panepistimiou St., Athens, Greece

I'm not a fan of military style parades but this is the main way such events are celebrated here.  Both school students and army regiments (is that what they are called?) parade in the central streets of each town. In the city of Athens, there is a school parade on March 24 (military style / marching in step) and a real military parade on March 25, both passing in front of the Parliament and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Syntagma Square and then continuing on Panepistimiou St. (a.k.a. Eleftheriou Venizelou St.) till Omonia Sq. Due to the cutbacks of recent years, there are no longer tanks, or any other vehicles parading and no airplanes flying in the sky above. Only soldiers (and marine sailors, airmen, policemen, firemen, etc.) on foot. Good for air quality as well!

Independence Day Parade, Panepistimiou St., Athens, Greece

I hadn't watched a parade in Athens before -only in smaller towns- and mostly during my school years when we had to take part. But I did go to city center this morning for the sake of... AthensWalker. Too militaristic for my liking (more than what I remember from other towns), with groups of soldiers marching in line in various steps and often yelling macho army slogans that either make no sense or have no need to be shouted out in public. If not anything else, these  theatrics just diminish what the army stands for... Anyway, here are the pictures from the parade, along with some calmer ones with Greek flags flying at various points in the city.

People watching, cheering and taking photos. Independence Day Parade, Panepistimiou St., Athens, Greece. 

Independence Day Parade, Panepistimiou St., Athens, Greece.

Independence Day Parade, Panepistimiou St., Athens, Greece.

Independence Day Parade, Panepistimiou St., Athens, Greece.

Independence Day Parade, Panepistimiou St., Athens, Greece.

City Band at the Independence Day Parade, Panepistimiou St., Athens, Greece.

Rescuers at the Independence Day Parade, Panepistimiou St., Athens, Greece.

People watching the Independence Day Parade from the stairs of the old National Library, Panepistimiou St., Athens.

Child dressed in national costume in front of the University of Athens, Independence Day, Athens, Greece.

Greek flag and statue of Goddess Athena, Athens, Greece.

Greek flags in Athens balconies, Independence Day

Greek flags in Athens balconies, Independence Day

Greek flags in a nursery school, Independence Day

Little house but full of flag, Independence Day, Athens

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