HISTORIC CELEBRATION: OCHI DAY

Back in 1940, Benito Mussolini and his buddy, Adolf Hitler, thought it would be helpful to the war effort if Greece were to allow itself to be occupied. In anticipation, Italian troops lined up on the border between Greece and Albania, which was, at that time, an Italian protectorate, and on October 28^th, the Italian ambassador to Greece asked General Ioannis Metaxas if it would be okay for them to come in and get the invasion started.

The general’s reply was brief. One word, actually. The word was “Ochi” (In English: “No.”) And just in case it lost something in the translation, he had his own forces attack the Italian forces and drive them back through most of Albania.

October 28^th is now a public holiday in Greece, and Metaxas’s famous “Ochi” is celebrated with parades, feasting, and special church services.

Tags: Adolf Hitler, Albania, Benito Mussolini, Greek celebrations, Greek holidays, Ioannis Metaxas, Ochi Day, Ochi Kōchi, October celebrations, Second World War, special days in October, World War II, World War Two, WW II, WWII