Happy National Oxi Day 2025
In acknowledgement of our President and CEO’s Greek heritage, we celebrate National Oxi Day. Oxi Day (also spelled Ohi or Ochi) is a national holiday celebrated on October 28 each year in Greece, Cyprus, and by Greek communities worldwide. It commemorates the day in 1940 when Greek Prime Minister Ioannis Metaxas rejected Benito Mussolini’s demand to allow Italian troops to enter Greece. Metaxas famously replied to the Italian ultimatum in French—the diplomatic language of the time—saying, “Alors, c’est la guerre!” which means “Then it is war!”
In the days that followed, news of Metaxas’ denial circulated throughout the capital, prompting the Greek people to take to the streets chanting “Oxi!” (“No!”) His decision on October 28, 1940, is commemorated annually as a day that symbolizes bravery, unity, and heroism for millions of Greeks worldwide.
Photo courtesy of Unsplash.