Okhi Day
Encyclopedia : O : OK : OKH : Okhi Day
Celebrated throughout Greece on October 28 each year, Okhi day (also spelled Ohi day, Oxi Day, or Ochi day) commemorates the refusal of an Italian ultimatum by the Greek dictator (in power from August 4 1936 until January 29 1941), Ioannis Metaxas on October 28, 1940. This ultimatum, which was presented to Metaxas by the Italian ambassador in Greece, Grachi, on October 28 1940, at dawn (04:00 AM), after a party in the German embassy in Athens, demanded of Greece to allow Axis forces to enter Greek territory and occupy certain unspecified "strategic locations" or otherwise face war. It was allegedly answered with a single word: όχι or no. Most scholars dismiss this as an urban legend, claiming that the actual reply was the French phrase "Alors, c'est la guerre" ("Then it is war"). In response to Metaxas's refusal, Italian troops stationed in Albania, then an Italian protectorate, attacked the Greek border at 05:30 AM. Metaxas's reply marked the beginning of Greece's participation in World War II (see Greco-Italian War and Battle of Greece).
The Greek word for no is όχι ['o̞.çi], where ό is stressed and pronounced 'oh'; χ is pronounced similar to the 'h' in 'huge' — ι is pronounced like the 'e' in 'he'.
After the end of the war October 28 became a public holiday in Greece. The events of 1940 are commemorated every year with military and student parades. Most public buildings and residences are decorated with Greek flags.
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