Ohi Day (October 28): The Day Greece Said “No”

At around 3 a.m. on October 28, 1940, the Italian ambassador in Athens handed Greek Prime Minister Ioannis Metaxas an ultimatum: allow Axis troops to occupy parts of Greece, or face war. Greece refused. That refusal is remembered every year on Ohi Day (Epeteios tou Ochi — “Anniversary of the No”), a national holiday in Greece and Cyprus and a proud day for Greek communities worldwide.

Ohi Day at a glance
Date	October 28 every year
Greek name	Επέτειος του «Όχι» (Anniversary of the “No”)
Marks	Greece’s rejection of Mussolini’s ultimatum, 1940
Celebrated in	Greece, Cyprus and the Greek diaspora
Status	Public holiday in Greece and Cyprus
Main events	Military parade in Thessaloniki; school and student parades everywhere
Hashtags	#OhiDay #28Oktovriou

The Story Behind “Ochi”

By 1940 Italy, led by Benito Mussolini, wanted to expand in the Balkans. Ambassador Emanuele Grazzi delivered the ultimatum to Metaxas at his home in Kifissia. Metaxas replied in French, the language of diplomacy: “Alors, c’est la guerre” — “Then it is war.” The Greek people summed up his answer in one word: Ochi (Όχι) — No! Within hours Italian troops crossed the border from Albania.

What followed surprised the world. The Greek army not only stopped the invasion in the mountains of Epirus but pushed the Italians back deep into Albania during the winter of 1940–41. It was the first Allied land victory against the Axis in the Second World War. In April 1941 Nazi Germany invaded to rescue its ally, and Greece endured a brutal occupation until 1944.

“Hence we will not say that Greeks fight like heroes, but that heroes fight like Greeks.” — words widely attributed to Winston Churchill

Timeline of the Greco-Italian War

Date	Event
October 28, 1940	Ultimatum rejected; Italy invades Greece
November 1940	Greek counter-offensive drives Italian forces back into Albania
December 1940	Greek forces capture Korçë, Gjirokastër and other towns
March 1941	A major Italian spring offensive fails
April 6, 1941	Germany invades Greece
October 1944	Athens is liberated

How Ohi Day Is Celebrated

• Military parade in Thessaloniki, attended by the President of the Republic — the city also celebrates its patron saint, St. Demetrius, on October 26.
• Student parades in every town and village, with flag-bearers chosen from the best pupils.
• Blue-and-white flags on balconies, shops and public buildings.
• Church services of thanksgiving and memorials to the fallen.
• School ceremonies on October 27 with poems, songs and plays about 1940.
• Greek communities abroad — in Australia, the USA, Canada, the UK and Germany — hold parades and dances.

Songs and Symbols of 1940

• Sofia Vembo, the “singer of victory”, whose songs mocking Mussolini lifted morale at home.
• The evzones and soldiers in the snowy Pindus mountains, remembered in countless photographs.
• The women of Epirus who carried ammunition and supplies up the mountains to the front.
• The word “OXI” painted on mountainsides and walls, still visible in parts of Greece.

Greek National Holidays to Know

Holiday	Date
Independence Day (Revolution of 1821)	March 25
Ohi Day	October 28
Polytechnic Uprising anniversary (school holiday)	November 17

👉 Also in October: See all October holidays

FAQs