Heroes fight like Greeks.

Hi lina, well it's not actually my heritage, just my adopted one, but certainly my son is thought of as Greek and thinks of himself as Greek, and has no problems at all marching with the Greeks, and he did look very handsome and smart. The first time I saw the parade it was precedeed by long emotional Greek poems recited in the village square with the famous Patrick Leigh Fermor given pride of place and a chair. I felt then how much pride the Greeks had in their past. Of course we all know that Greece had to surrender in the end to the might of Germany and actually lost the highers percentage of its population in the war than any other Eurpean country. Only to be followed by the dark years of civil war. But before they surrendered they certainly made a stand which delayed Hitler in his plans on the Russian front.

Oops, sorry about that Thea, I did mean to say adopted heritage, I remembered after my posting that you had written in another discussion about speaking English only that you mentioned that Greek was not your native language.

No problem at all lina.

Bravo Ellatha. Enough was just enough after the Turks.

Really? So your son, at which age does he have to go then..? That's the same here.. Keep up with the history lessons, I'd love reading them, for sure..

It's 18 over here but they can defer it until after university if they want. So you did national service then? Tell all. I find it really makes the young men here much more mature though goodness knows how they all managed without mamas cooking. And if you like the history I will post more even if you are the only one who reads them.

Hi Zed, I'm glad I spread the word around then. I'm full of bundles of history you know made a few discsussions about them too soon, when I didn't really know my way round here. Maybe I'll try a jelly and revive a few of the ideas without repeating them. We still have national service you know as well.

Hi Hatley, it's hard to think that literally schoolboys were sent off to fight isn't it. Greece certainly had a difficult time of it in the 1940's, invaded by Italy and then fighting against them and Albanians in Albania, before being defeated by Germany. They were massively outnumbered and totally unprepared for war. The German occupation was a terrible thing to live under and the Greek Jewish population, mainly based in Thesalonika, were almost obliterated in the camps. Then of course famine and civil war. I just wanted to post something about this day of National pride and how seriously it is remembered.

Hi malpoa, congratualtions on your anniversary. Firstly let me say we do not have a king, nor do we want want again. It's not only the school children who parade it's the military too, but in the large cities. I'd rather see the parade locally than watch a few dignataires attending one on the TV.

Hi Malpoa, no royals at all. Maybe some pretensious ex royal family member is dragging out a title unacknowledged by the Greeks.

Thank you thea. I am wrong. It is not king, but you do have a prince there, right? I saw him on Tv. He was attending a wedding here. He is young and charming. I m sorry, I cant recollect his name. While he ws talking to reporters, the title told, prince only...

Hi wmraul, of course his name was Metaxas, the brany is Metaxa 3, 5. or 7 star. Surely you are not implying that the almost dictatorial General turned Prime minster took the name of a brandy. Do you get Metaxa then in Romania?

I presume the brandy goes back further than the 1940's but don't actually know. Maybe his family invented it. If you've tried the metaxa with success have you ever come across the foul Tsipero? It can knock a grown man out cold.

Well, I was thinking they named the brandy after him ... Yes,there is plenty of MEtaxa 3/5/7 stars here and was a time I have "taste it" succesfully ..

Hi zandi, I'm more interested in the history of other countries from the 1930's on than the ancient history, and I do read round a lot about the changes which occured in the 40's triggered by war. There are also many fascinating books which show history from an autobiographical perspective from countries which were more or less sealed off for many years, such as China and Iran. These often give a more accurate picture than a history text. I think with Greece that hardly anyting is known outide the country about the civil war which took place immediately after WW11 and it is hard to find much about it, but it is a fascinating time. As for Malaysian history my knowledge is little more than the Japanese occupation and the camps established there for the prisoners of war, but I've read widely about those though little is mentioned about the local population. It seemed to be mainly Chinese vendors selling goods on where they could to the prisoners. Schools here put huge emphasis on the history of Greece right through from ancient times and even at kindergarten level the history of OXI day is taught.

Hi Amber, sorry I missed you coming in at the end here. I was just in closing it down. Have a good day with mr Hellcowboy.

Hi neil, it's good to be able to pass on information like this and show that other countries have things to little known to those outside of the culture. I know that the Greek communities who live abroad, mainly in Australia and the US, still take the time out to remember OXI day there.

He did Aunty, and he even pretended not to see me waving from the sidelines, very professional.

That brought a smile to my face. don't think hugo is probably quite old enough but they go through a phase where mom is just a neccessary evil, lol. my youngest use to have me drop him off a way when i would take him to the show etc. he didn't want his peers to see his mom bringing him. I don't know how he thought they had gotten there, lol.

I've actually been waiting for that phase for quite a while now Aunty as I know it will happen sometime even though he assures me he'll still kiss and cuddle mama when he is 40. He will still come up and give me a kiss in public, but not I think if his friends are around. It was all business though with eyes straight ahead in the parade, as it should have been.

Yes, Thea, that's great, Greece has nothing to apologize for. It was all in remembrance of the bravery of the then Prime Minister Loannis Metaxas and his army to defy the powerful Mussolini's request and flatly say NO and not allow the Italians to enter Greece and although outnumbered were never outfought. It was remarkable in your history how your people were able to drive the Italians to Albania while at the same time had to contend with the Turks. I know very little of European history but this is a period in world history which is known to many. I wish I can witness the streets of Athens and Tessaloniki at this momentous event.

Hi Sandra,well the history and culture is drummed into them endlessly which is why a survey showed that Greek teenagers were the proudest of their nation in the world, that may be out of date now as I discovered that whilst back in the UK. I think the whole thing with OXI day goes beyond just entering the war and defying Musolinna, but a way of throwing off the mantle of the Turkish occupation once and for all as well. That's a nice point you made though which I hadn't considered, Greece really has nothing to apologise for regarding the war.

Hello again, Thea. It's the same here in Spain - children are taught to be proud of their history and culture here. As in Greece, a lot of the teaching involves fiestas, parade and generally having a good celebration, which is a lovely way to learn. The problem in England is that we seem to be ashamed of our heritage, probably because the Guardianistas feel uncomfortable when they remember slavery and the Empire. Well, slavery is nothing to be proud of, but we weren't alone in that, and it can't be changed now. As for the Empire, it was what made Britain great. I don't think it's even mediocre now, and the only people who seem to celebrate their roots and culture are immigrants and minority groups. This year, the biggest St George's Day celebration was held here, on the Costa Blanca.

Hi sunny, I'd temper that down to moderate patriotism rather than blind acceptance. It's no fun at all if we can't poke fun at the leaders. The gurkhas are famous indeed but maybe its time that India asked for them back from the British.

If the external threat is real and not fabricated to make a president get higher ratings and manipulate the populace.

internal matters are different. of-course we can poke fun at our leaders, but its the external threat that we must be united against. we do have a Gurkha regiment in India also..so the Britishers can keep their version of the regiment. i guess we started globalization quite early...

Hi vandana, I'm glad you enjoyed the information. I didn't get round to seeing the euthanasia discussion but I did see on my home page that you got the best response,so well done, and it's good to see that the opposing view does get them. Now don't go around terrifying young boys too much

And happy OXI day for u and ur family. Here is a smilie for ur son.

Thank you TIAjai, although much is known about ancient Greece and its mythology and wars, little is known I believe outside the country, about the more modern day events. For such a small country it does indeed represent bravery.

They are certainly a tough breed Jelly, and non more so than the Maniots around here.

Hi Karen, the day really finishes with the parade as its more of a memorial really. We were lucky the sun was out and it was hot but straight after the torrential rain started. Still my son looked great and has had a half day holiday, and the avatar gave me two lobsters so a pretty good day.