Independence Day in Greece

March 25, 2011

Some notices from the internet on this national Greek holiday:

President of the United States Barack Obama is hosting a reception in honor of Greek Independence Day in the East Wing of the White House today at 4:35pm. In case you plan to drop by, see the the White House schedule here. Obama already issued a proclamation regarding the event.
The blog Living in Greece by expat "Kat" has a good overview of contemporary Greece (she lives in Athens and has had many adventures dealing with the Greek bureaucracy, police, jobs, landlords, etc.). She has an analysis and personal reflection on the Greek National Anthem "Hymn of Liberty," including a couple of translations of the song for English readers. (The anthem is from a poem written by Dionýsios Solomós in 1823 that consists of 158 stanzas, but only three of these are officially in the anthem, which is also the anthem of Republic of Cyprus, and it is also the Greek "Royal Anthem.")
The Chicago tribune goes all out on covering the Greek national holiday and its meaning for the Greek-American community in the Illinois capitol city. (Screenshot of online article below)
To learn more about the Greek War of Independence, read this page on Theodore Colocontranes who one of the most important leaders of the Greek revolt against the Ottoman Turks during the War of Independence.

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