Ohi Day 2027: date and countries

Dates by country

Ohi Day 2027 by country
Country	Date	Local name
Cyprus	Thu 28 Oct	Ημέρα του Όχι
Greece	Thu 28 Oct	Ημέρα του Όχι

What is Ohi Day?

Ohi Day, or Oxi Day, is a national holiday in Greece and Cyprus that commemorates the Greek refusal of an Italian ultimatum on 28 October 1940. The Greek word ochi, pronounced oh-hee, means no. It is also called the Anniversary of the No, and it marks Greece's entry into the Second World War. The day is celebrated with flags and patriotic songs, and many Greeks regard it as a moment of national pride.

Shortly after 3 a.m. on 28 October 1940, the Italian ambassador in Athens, Emanuele Grazzi, delivered to the Greek dictator Ioannis Metaxas an ultimatum demanding that Italian forces be allowed to occupy unspecified strategic locations in Greece. Metaxas is reported to have replied in French, 'Alors, c'est la guerre' ('then it is war'); popular memory renders it as the single word no. Italian troops attacked from Albania at 5:30 a.m., and Greek forces held and then pushed the Italian army back into Albania.

Why it is observed

Greece was invaded by Germany in April 1941 and was then occupied by German, Italian and Bulgarian forces. The refusal of 1940 is remembered as an act of national resistance, and the anniversary has been commemorated since 1942 and became a national holiday after the war. It is celebrated with military and school parades, with the main military parade in Thessaloniki and student parades in Athens and elsewhere. In Cyprus, where many families have close ties to Greece, the day is also an official holiday, with parades and ceremonies in towns and schools.

How the date is set

Ohi Day is fixed on 28 October. It is not moved when it falls on a weekend.

How it is observed

Ohi Day is a public holiday in Greece and Cyprus. Banks, public offices and schools are closed, and shops follow reduced hours, though most restaurants and cafés are open. Parades take place in the morning, with road closures in city centres, and many families display the Greek flag. The date is fixed, and when it falls on a weekend there is generally no extra day off; in 2027 it is a Thursday. Pay and time off depend on national law and the contract.

Sources

Questions

Good to know

When is Ohi Day in 2027?

Thursday, 28 October 2027 in all 2 countries that observe it (Cyprus, Greece).

Which countries observe Ohi Day?

In our coverage: Cyprus, Greece. Only holidays that apply across a whole country are counted.

Why is Ohi Day observed?

Greece was invaded by Germany in April 1941 and was then occupied by German, Italian and Bulgarian forces. The refusal of 1940 is remembered as an act of national resistance, and the anniversary has been commemorated since 1942 and became a national holiday after the war. It is celebrated with military and school parades, with the main military parade in Thessaloniki and student parades in Athens and elsewhere. In Cyprus, where many families have close ties to Greece, the day is also an official holiday, with parades and ceremonies in towns and schools.

How is the date of Ohi Day set?

Ohi Day is fixed on 28 October. It is not moved when it falls on a weekend.