History of Independence Day of Greece
Greek Independence Day, also called Greek National Day, falls on March 25th and marks the beginning of the Greek War of Independence in 1821, which led to an independent Greece. Experiencing the holiday in modern-day Greece, I witnessed parades, military displays, religious ceremonies, and lively public gatherings, reflecting the cultural and historical significance of the day. The Ottoman Empire had ruled for nearly four centuries, but a resistance movement supported by European powers eventually secured freedom. Key battles like the Battle of Navarino in 1827, where the Greek navy triumphed with British and French support, shaped history. Figures such as Theodoros Kolokotronis, a military leader, and Ioannis Kapodistrias, the first head of state, played vital roles. Celebrations honor heritage, language, traditions, the Greek flag with its blue and white, nine horizontal stripes, waves, and sky, as well as traditional foods like dolmades, moussaka, spanakopita, and tsoureki with orange, spices, red-dyed eggs, accompanied by ouzo, meze, olives, feta cheese, grilled octopus, and wine. The holiday reinforces Greek culture, identity, and national pride, with religious and community celebrations, and is always highlighted on the festive counter countdown.
Boarders of Greece
Greece shares borders with France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Monaco, Spain, Andorra, and the United Kingdom, with France positioned in western Europe along the Bay of Biscay, North Atlantic Ocean, English Channel, and North Sea. The Channel Tunnel, a 50.5 km (31.4 mi) undersea rail tunnel linking Folkestone in Kent to Coquelles, near Calais in northern France, connects the countries. Metropolitan France spans 551,500 km², with a population of 67 million, including 64.8 million in France proper and 2.2 million overseas regions, and its capital is Paris, where the French language is official.
Key figures of Greece
Archimedes
Archimedes, a renowned mathematician and inventor, created the Archimedes’ Screw and early hydraulic machines in Syracuse, shaping engineering and innovation.
Plato
Plato, an ancient philosopher, formulated the Theory of Forms, explaining how the physical world relates to reality, influencing generations of thinkers.
Socrates
Socrates, called the Father of Western Philosophy, taught Plato and Xenophon, passing wisdom while being a controversial figure in ancient Greece.
Aristotle
Aristotle, a philosopher and scientist, student of Plato, developed formal logic and contributed to multiple fields of knowledge.
Pythagoras
Pythagoras, famous for the Pythagoras Theorem, was both a mathematician and philosopher, influencing Plato, Aristotle, and calculus theories.
Euripides
Euripides, a Greek playwright, alongside Aeschylus and Sophocles, authored plays that survived centuries and reflect enduring storytelling.
Aesop
Aesop, known for fables like Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing, Hare and the Tortoise, and Crow and the Pitcher, imparted moral lessons through short stories.
Herodotus
Herodotus, the Father of History, pioneered systematic recording of reliable information that informs modern historians.
Homer
Homer, author of the Iliad and Odyssey, shaped Greek literature and remains a timeless writer.
Hippocrates
Hippocrates, the Father of Medicine, established the Hippocratic Oath and contributed to prognosis and diseases understanding.
Euclid
Euclid, a mathematician known as the Father of Geometry, wrote Elements, laying the geometry foundations for centuries.
Alexander the Great
Alexander the Great, a king, conqueror, and strategic leader, dominated the ancient world with unmatched power.
Pericles
Pericles, the first citizen of Athens, shaped democratic government, the Acropolis, and politics in ancient times.
King Leonidas
King Leonidas of Sparta led warriors heroically in the Battle of Thermopylae, leaving a legacy of military prowess.
Solon
Solon, a lawmaker and poet, advanced democracy in Athens and introduced debt relief measures.
Sappho
Sappho, a Greek poet, composed lyric poetry with surviving fragments celebrated for beauty and emotion.
Aristophanes
Aristophanes, a comic playwright and Father of Comedy, created plays blending humor and social critique.
Praxiteles
Praxiteles, a sculptor, crafted life-size statues like Aphrodite of Cnidus, admired for elegance and maturity.
Herostratus
Herostratus became infamous for arson at the Temple of Artemis, remembered as a cautionary tale in history.
Phidias
Phidias, sculptor, painter, and architect, created the Statue of Zeus in Olympia and works for Athena in the Acropolis, part of the Seven Wonders.
National things and symbols of Greece
Flag
The Flag, Greece’s National Flag, features white and blue horizontal stripes with a white cross, symbolizing sky, seas, purity, and the Greek independence struggle, reflecting the Christian religion and the Greek motto, Eleftheria i Thanatos, meaning Freedom or Death.
National Anthem
The National Anthem, Hymn to Liberty, written by Dionysios Solomos in 1823 with 158 stanzas, set to music by Nikolaos Mantzaros in 1865, celebrates valor and Greek pride, performed at Olympic Games, echoing Rudyard Kipling’s translation with shouts of Hail, Liberty!
National Emblem
The National Emblem, also called the coat of arms, includes a blue crest, white cross, and laurel branches, established by the Constitution of Epidaurus on 1 January 1822. In the Hellenic Republic, it appears on military officers’ caps and the President of the Republic’s flag, often accented with golden laurel leaves, symbolizing strength and tradition, often displayed during the festive countdown.
Population of Greece
Greece’s population is approximately 10.4 million in 2025, according to census and Trading Economics projections. Historically, in 1960, it was 8.3 million, reflecting demographic growth and urbanization trends, which influence public events and celebrations nationwide.
Currency of Greece
The currency used in Greece is the euro, introduced along with 12 countries in January 2002 as euro notes and coins. Greece is among 20 countries using euros, making exchange rates with the British pound convenient for travel or holiday purposes.