How the Celebration of March 25 Was Established
March 25 is a significant day for Greece, marked by a dual celebration that combines both a national anniversary and a major religious feast.
A Great Celebration for Greece
March 25 is a momentous occasion for Greece, serving as both a national holiday and an important religious event. Greeks worldwide honor their ancestors and commemorate the start of the 1821 Revolution against Ottoman rule. At the same time, they celebrate their Orthodox faith by observing the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary, marking the announcement of Jesus Christ’s birth.
The National Anniversary of March 25 – How It Was Established
Every year on March 25, we honor the 1821 Revolution, the struggle of the Greek people for freedom and independence after 400 years of Ottoman oppression. This date marks the beginning of modern Greek history, symbolizing the start of the national rebirth and the creation of an independent Greek state.
Similar to October 28, March 25 celebrates the beginning—not the end—of the revolution. The commemoration was officially established on March 15, 1838, by King Otto, linking it with the significant religious celebration of the Annunciation of the Theotokos (Virgin Mary).
It was also the desire of Alexandros Ypsilantis and the Filiki Etairia (Society of Friends) to align the revolution’s start with a major ecclesiastical day to boost the morale of the enslaved Greeks.
The Start of the Revolution
On a diplomatic level, the Revolution began in late February 1821 in Moldavia (modern-day Romania), led by Prince Alexandros Ypsilantis. In Greece, the uprising ignited in the Peloponnese and quickly spread to Central Greece and other regions. The Neo-Hellenic Enlightenment played a key role in awakening national consciousness, with Rigas Feraios being a prominent figure. His famous words, “Better one hour of free life than forty years of slavery and prison,” became inextricably linked to the liberation struggle.
Why Is It Celebrated on March 25?
According to tradition, the Revolution began in Kalavryta at the Agia Lavra monastery, where Metropolitan Germanos of Old Patras raised the revolutionary flag on March 25, 1821. Linking this date with the Annunciation added religious significance to the struggle. The date was also chosen for practical reasons, as revolutionary activities could be concealed within the religious festivities. Since then, this national anniversary has been celebrated annually on the same day.
The Annunciation of the Theotokos
March 25 is also dedicated to the Annunciation of the Theotokos, one of the greatest feasts in Christianity. It commemorates the day when the Archangel Gabriel announced to the Virgin Mary that she would give birth to the Son of God.
According to the Gospel of Luke, the Archangel sought Mary’s consent for the incarnation of the Divine Word. Though Mary was only betrothed to Joseph and had not been intimate with him, Gabriel explained that this was God’s will. He also cited the example of Elizabeth, who, despite being barren, bore a child through divine intervention. Mary humbly accepted the divine message, fulfilling her role as the Mother of Christ, and the Archangel departed after completing his mission.
The Annunciation is a day of joy and celebration. For this reason, the Lenten fast is paused for one day, allowing the consumption of fish. The Church permits fish even if the Annunciation falls during Holy Week.
It is a public holiday in Greece. Tradition holds that even swallows refrain from building their nests on this day. In some regions, children remove their “Martis” bracelets—worn throughout March—and place them on rose bushes or tree branches for swallows to use in their nests.
In parts of Epirus, on the eve of the Annunciation, children run through the fields banging pots, pan lids, and any metal kitchen utensils they can find. They believe this drives away snakes, which awaken from hibernation on that day.
In one way or another, wherever there are Christians, this day is celebrated as a joyful occasion, honoring the Archangel’s glad tidings and paying tribute to the Virgin Mary.