Independence Day in Greece marks the start of the 1821 Greek War of Independence against the Ottoman Empire. The day combines national pride with the Feast of the Annunciation, featuring military parades, church services, and cultural celebrations across the country.

When is Independence Day?

Independence Day in Greece is celebrated on March 25 every year.

The following is the list of Independence Day from 2020 to 2049.

The History of Independence Day?

After the fall of Constantinople in 1453, Greece gradually came under the control of the Ottoman Empire. For nearly 400 years, Greeks lived under Ottoman rule, though Greek culture and the Orthodox faith were preserved, largely through the influence of the Church.

By the late 18th and early 19th centuries, nationalist ideas spread across Europe, inspiring Greeks to seek self-determination. The "Society of Friends", founded in 1814, was a secret organization dedicated to planning a revolt against the Ottomans.

On March 25, 1821, Bishop Germanos of Patras is said to have raised the banner of revolution at the Monastery of Agia Lavra in the Peloponnese. This symbolic act marked the beginning of the Greek War of Independence. The revolution quickly spread across the Peloponnese, Central Greece, and the islands.

The struggle was fierce, with major battles and massacres on both sides, such as the sieges of Missolonghi and Tripolitsa. Despite setbacks, the Greek cause gained international sympathy, especially in Britain, France, and Russia.

The Battle of Navarino (1827), where British, French, and Russian fleets destroyed the Ottoman-Egyptian navy, was decisive in securing Greek independence. The London Protocol of 1830 formally recognized Greece as an independent state. In 1832, Greece was established as a kingdom, with Otto of Bavaria as its first king.

March 25 was chosen as Independence Day because it coincides with the Feast of the Annunciation in the Orthodox Church, symbolizing both national liberation and spiritual rebirth.

Since the 19th century, it has been celebrated with parades, church services and patriotic events, making it one of Greece's most important national holidays.