Marathonas, Greece 🇬🇷 on Oxi Day!
October 28, 2026 is Ohi or Oxi Day (pronounced Oh-hee).
The Ohi holiday is all about resistance dating back to 1940, and means, “No!” This national holiday is always observed on October 28.
A quick search revealed a few facts I wanted to know before heading to the Aegina parade this morning.
Historical Significance
“The Ultimatum: In the early hours of October 28, 1940, during World War II, an Italian ambassador delivered an ultimatum from fascist dictator Benito Mussolini to Greek Prime Minister Ioannis Metaxas.
The "No: Mussolini demanded that Italian forces be allowed to occupy strategic sites in Greece. Metaxas famously rejected the demand with a firm “No” (“Ohi”), which launched Greece into World War II and initiated the Greco-Italian War.
The Resistance: Despite facing a larger Axis power, Greek forces mounted a fierce resistance and repelled the Italian army back into Albania, marking the first major Axis land-invasion defeat of the war.”
As a WWII buff, I was thrilled to see so many Aegina islanders, especially the schoolchildren, marching to the beat of the drums and keeping Greece’s tradition of resistance and freedom alive.
One reason I came to Greece is to explore its ancient history, but today I got a front-row seat to a different chapter of its past.
How lucky am I to be standing on a little Greek island, watching history and patriotism march right before my eyes?
Ohi! Sometimes one little word—NO—can change the course of history. It sure did for Greece 86 years ago, and still relevant today!
bSoleille!
Terri
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