{"id":1828,"date":"2015-03-24T21:27:04","date_gmt":"2015-03-24T21:27:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/greek\/?p=1828"},"modified":"2017-01-20T16:31:33","modified_gmt":"2017-01-20T16:31:33","slug":"happy-independence-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/greek\/happy-independence-day\/","title":{"rendered":"Happy Independence Day!"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Aster-oid<\/a>

Aster-oid under a CC license on Flickr<\/p><\/div>\n

On the 25<\/span>th<\/span><\/sup> of March we celebrate the Independence Day, i.e. the revolution of the Greeks against the Turks in 1821. <\/span>This post is not about the historical facts, <\/span>t<\/span>here are just some information about the way we celebrate, about kalamatianos, the famous Greek dance, and about the traditional foods we eat.<\/span>
\n F<\/span>reedom or Death (<\/em><\/span>\u0395\u03bb\u03b5\u03c5\u03b8\u03b5\u03c1\u03af\u03b1 \u03ae \u0398\u03ac\u03bd\u03b1\u03c4\u03bf\u03c2)<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

This\u00a0is the <\/span>motto<\/span> that best describes the principles of the Greeks who revolted against the Turks in 1921. (\u0395\u03bb\u03bb\u03b7\u03bd\u03b9\u03ba\u03ae \u03b5\u03c0\u03b1\u03bd\u03ac\u03c3\u03c4\u03b1\u03c3\u03b7, Greek revolution). It consists of nine syllables (e-lef-the-ree-a-ee-tha-na-tos). The nine stripes of the Greek flag represent this phrase. <\/span><\/p>\n

How we celebrate it<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The Greek Independence Day – 25\u03b7 \u039c\u03b1\u03c1\u03c4\u03af\u03bf\u03c5<\/em>, as we call it-\u00a0<\/span> is celebrated <\/span>throughout the country<\/span>, <\/span>by parades, memorials to the heroes of the revolution and special events. <\/span>The day before, there are no lessons in schools, and events, such as theatrical plays based on the life of the heroes, are organized. <\/span><\/p>\n

Sometimes<\/span>, there are performances of Greek dances organized by local organizations and clubs. <\/span>The <\/span>most famous<\/span> Greek dance is <\/span>\u03ba\u03b1\u03bb\u03b1\u03bc\u03b1\u03c4\u03b9\u03b1\u03bd\u03cc<\/span>\u03c2 <\/span><\/em>or <\/span>\u03c3\u03c5\u03c1\u03c4\u03cc\u03c2<\/span><\/em> which <\/span>originates from the Peloponnese. According to some theories, it has its origins in ancient times. It is danced in all areas by men and women. <\/span>The<\/span> beat<\/span> is 7\/8 and it has twelve basic steps. The dancers\u00a0 dance in circle and the one who leads <\/span>improvises. If you have been to a Greek <\/span>\u03c0\u03b1\u03bd\u03b7\u03b3\u03cd\u03c1\u03b9<\/em> <\/span>(feast) you are very likely to have seen <\/span>people dancing – <\/span>or <\/span>to have danced yourself- <\/span> \u03ba\u03b1\u03bb\u03b1\u03bc\u03b1\u03c4\u03b9\u03b1\u03bd\u03cc<\/em>. There are different dances in every area but kalamatianos is danced everywhere in Greece.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

A video of a traditional kalamatiano song by Domna Samiou<\/p>\n