Επέτειος του «'Οχι» - Ohi Day - 28th October - On Hydra Island

Ohi Day is a Greek National Holiday celebrating the Anniversary of the 'NO'.

It is celebrated throughout Greece, Cyprus and the Greek communities around the world on October 28 each year, to commemorate the rejection by Greek Prime Minister Ioannis Metaxas (in power from August 4, 1936, until January 29, 1941) of the ultimatum made by Italian dictator Benito Mussolini on October 28, 1940 during World War II.

On Hydra, the school children from nursery level to the oldest in high school, come together with the 2nd year students from the Maritime Merchant Academy on Hydra to attend a church service and lay wreaths in the courtyard of the Monastery of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary (on the port) before a parade along the harbour, watched by their proud families and friends.

Ohi Day is more of a political day than a religious observation although church and politics in Greece are so intertwined that a service is included to give thanks and those children who have performed well at school and have been chosen as flag bearers attend the service, while their classmates jostle good-naturedly in the monastery courtyard under the watchful eyes of their teachers.

Two weeks before Ohi Day, some of the school children start to practice with their snare drums so there is little chance of forgetting that Ohi Day is approaching!

Not only are the snare drums played with great enthusiasm, recorded music is played and it's generally noisy and a happy event which closes off the summer season in Hydra.