The 25th of March is the day that the Greeks celebrate their independence from the Ottoman Empire. This year marks 200 years of Greek independence.
In 1453 the city of Constantinople fell to the Ottomans; it was the last remaining major city of the Byzantine Empire. For the next almost 400 years, the Greeks were under Ottoman rule. They were allowed to keep some of their culture, but if they did so they were given less opportunities.
Some of the children were forcibly separated from their families to be taken off to Ottoman mainland (modern day Turkey), and were raised as if they were Ottomans. Many of these children were boys, and so were soon sent to fight for the Ottoman army. This in Greek is called Pethomazoma (παιδομάζομα) the teaching of kids. So, in an attempt to keep the Greek culture alive, secret schools were formed. The children would go to school in the dead of night where they would not be seen. These schools were often underground or in churches and were taught by priests or monks. There were 200 of these schools all over Greece.
During those 400 years of Ottoman rule, the Greeks had many uprisings. But the most significant was in 1821. In the monastery of Agia Lavra during the Annunciation (a Christian holiday) the archbishop Germanos III of Old Patras blessed and raised the Greek flag and fought for greek freedom. So, the revolution began.
One of the main battles was fought in the seas. Laskarina Bouboulina, a woman from the island of Spetses, is remembered for her contributions from her late husband’s shipping company and for being the first female admiral of the Imperial Russian Navy. Bouboulina was an important figure, fighting along side men. She was one of the few women able to successfully hold such a role. She was able to do all this while still raising her two children.
The island of Souli was one of the few places the Ottomans could never get a hold of as both men and women fought for the land. Eventually the Ottomans gained control of Souli as the men had all been killed or sent off to fight in another part of Greece. The women warriors were left behind with the children to protect the island. When news was heard about the Ottomans gaining control of their island, the women said that they would either live free or die (Ελευθερία ή Θάνατος). They saw that they would probably not be able to live free and that left them with one option, die. 200 women with their children gathered together at the edge of a cliff and preformed their Island’s dance, the dance of the Zalongo. This dance was performed in a circle and every time the music stopped another woman and her children would jump off the edge of the cliff.
After 8 years, in 1829, the Greeks won and gained their freedom.
Now Greeks all over the world celebrate 25th of March and remember the day their country began the road to freedom. This year, being the 200th year, famous landmarks all over the world such as Niagara Falls, Sydney Opera House and more will be lit up blue and white to commemorate this historic day.
The events listed above is the condensed story of the creation of modern Greece. These events are, like most of history, too convoluted and emotional for many to put into one article.
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