Greece Public Holiday Calendar

Overview of Public Holidays in Greece

In the Greek Orthodox Church, fixed-date observances (such as Epiphany and Christmas) follow the Revised Julian calendar—which aligns with the Gregorian calendar—while the date of Easter continues to be calculated according to the traditional Julian calendar.

• Epiphany (Theophany)
  In Greek Orthodox tradition, Epiphany commemorates the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist in the Jordan River, during which the Holy Spirit is believed to have descended in the form of a dove. Although celebrated on the same date as Epiphany in Western Christian churches, it commemorates a distinct event.
• Clean Monday (Ash Monday / Kathara Deftera)
  Marks the beginning of Great Lent in the Greek Orthodox Church, occurring 40 days before Easter. Orthodox tradition prescribes fasting from meat starting on this day through Easter.
• Independence Day
  Commemorates the start of the Greek War of Independence in March 1821, which led to Greece's independence from the Ottoman Empire.
• Good Friday, Holy Saturday, Easter Sunday, Easter Monday
  Major religious observances commemorating the crucifixion, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Because the Greek Orthodox Church determines Easter using the traditional Julian calendar, these dates typically differ from Western Christian Easter.
• Pentecost Monday (Monday of the Holy Spirit)
  A Greek Orthodox holiday commemorating the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles, observed 50 days after Easter.
• Dormition of the Holy Virgin (Assumption of Mary)
  A Greek Orthodox feast day honoring the falling asleep (death) of the Virgin Mary and the translation of her body into heaven.
• National Anniversary (Ohi Day)
  Commemorates October 28, 1940, when Greece rejected the ultimatum issued by Fascist Italy during World War II ("Ohi" meaning "No").

Greece's National Flag & Anthem

National Flag

The national flag of Greece features nine alternating horizontal blue and white stripes with a white cross on a blue field in the upper hoist corner. The nine stripes represent the nine syllables of the traditional independence motto ("Freedom or Death"), while the cross symbolizes Greek Orthodoxy.

National Anthem