In Sithonia, the beautiful peninsula of northern Greece, there were many villages where people came together to celebrate Greece’s National Day on March 25th carrying mixed feelings of tribute and celebration.
Celebration in Agios Nikolaos
At the Church of Agios Nikolaos, villagers and officials honored the event over the weekend. The day started with a solemn hymn to the anniversary of our nation, afterwards, the Monument of the Fallen was the place where we all had the awestruck moment of remembrance for our fallen warriors. The commemorative event concluded in a procession that displayed students expressing their admiration for combatants of the Greek War of 1821. Additionally, there was the representation of municipal officials, local councils, associations, and also a large number of citizens which showed how the unity of the community took precedence over other things.
Celebration in Metagkitsi
Nonetheless, in Metagkitsi, the main aims addressed the past and the future continuously.ย People were together to commemorate the heroes of 1821 as they were thriving toward a bright future.ย The day started with a prayer service at the Church and the laying of wreaths in the morning.ย Free spirit was nurturing as students became part of the parade full of joy with the display of pride and the memory of Greek liberation.
Celebration in Nikiti
The Church of Agioi Theodoroi in Nikiti was the symbol of tradition and community spirit for the locals.ย The morning started with a joyous Divine Liturgy one of the cherished annual traditions kept up by the Women’s Association and local families.ย They arranged a splendid buffet with local dishes such as cuttlefish, savory pies, and all manner of homemade desserts that they shared with other merry-makers to mark the special occasion.
In the scorching sun, the residents and tourists alike flocked to the sea, enjoying the wind with their backs to the blue sea. The local cultural club called “ฮ ฮฃฮฏฮธฯฮฝ” brought its traditional dance troupes to embellish the shores with their wonderful dances, thus adding a lively rhythm to the festival. Among the distinguished guests were Ioannis Giorgos, Member of Parliament for Halkidiki, Katerina Zografou, Deputy Regional Governor, Olga Patsourakou, Deputy Mayor, and Christos Matsios, the President of Nikiti, who marked the importance of the event at both local and regional level.
As the day drew to a close, the echoes of celebration lingered, embodying the enduring spirit of Greek independence and the unity of communities across Sithonia.
