On March 25, we celebrate a double holiday: a historical and a religious one.
The religious one refers to the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. On March 25, Archangel Gabriel announced to Virgin Mary that she would soon become the mother of Jesus Christ, the son of God. The Annunciation is exactly 9 months before Christmas!
The historical one refers to the Greek Revolution against the Ottoman Empire. We celebrate the War of Independence which led to freedom!
In 1453, the Greeks came under the Ottoman Rule. They led frequent revolts with no result. However, things changed when a secret organization known as Filiki Eteria (Society of Friends) led the path to independence, the struggle for which started on March 25, 1821, in Peloponnese, followed by Crete, Macedonia and Central Greece. After many battles and years of negotiations with the three Great Powers, Russia, the United Kingdom and France, Greece was finally liberated, becoming an independent country in 1829.
On the Eve of March 25, we do not have classes. Instead, we have celebrations concerning the Greek Revolution. Students present plays, poems and songs that remind us all of those great achievements.
March 25 is a public holiday in Greece. All religious people go to church to celebrate the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary. Annunciation is “Evangelismos “(Eυαγγελισμός )in Greek so men called Evangelos- Vangelis and women called Evangelia celebrate their name day on March 25.
After church most people watch the military and school parades that take place all over the country in order to celebrate the Greek Revolution against the Ottoman Empire. Each school marches with the Greek flag held by the student with the highest grade point average. Folk dances also take place in many parts of the country.
A lot of people choose to go out for lunch. Although, this is the period of lent before Easter, the traditional dish of the day is fried cod fish with garlic sauce. This is because the Orthodox Church allows an exception in order for people to celebrate the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary.