25th March ... in unusual times

This used to be a day of celebration in Greece, with us taking lots of photos of  grandchildren laying wreaths, watching them marching in the local parade and cafeterias full of ouzo drinkers after the big event.  

Obviously none of that is happening this year, not even the ouzo drinking.  If the sun shines we may have a glass of wine on the balcony.  My traditional person put out the flag a few days ago.  Got to keep the Greek spirit flying.

Google honoured the Greek National day as it usually does by having the greek flag on their search page.

Today is the celebration of Greece's revolution against the Ottoman Turks, a resistance which continues to this day, 199 years later.  It is also a church fiesta, the Annunciation.

2021 is the 200th anniversary and Greece is preparing huge celebrations next year which will make up for the lack of them this year.  25th March marks the beginning of the struggle against the Turks, eventually leading to independance

There will be parades and fly-overs and a show of military strength,  music and dancing in the square, sticky cakes, traditional salt cod and garlic sauce by the ton and I am sure more ouzo drinking than is good for the nation's health

Traditional meal

fried salt cod, garlic sauce, beetroot, bulbs and leaves

oh, and wine

We had the national anthem playing as loud as possible this morning for all the neighbours to 'enjoy' and there was a fly-over from a couple of jets. 

Our celebration of independence has not been forgotten.