Every year on October 28, Greeks celebrate one of the country’s most important national holidays: Oxi Day (Ημέρα του Όχι).
The word όχι (ochi) means “no” in Greek, and the anniversary commemorates Greece’s rejection of an Italian ultimatum in 1940 and the country’s subsequent entry into World War II.
How Do Greeks Celebrate Easter? And what are the Greek Easter Traditions?
Greek Orthodox Easter is probably the biggest celebration of the year for most Greeks, with a lot of special traditions and family gatherings.
It is also one of the reasons Omilo organizes every year a Greek Easter course.
For 26 years in a row, the Omilo-team is celebrating Easter together with students (except of the „covid years in 2020 and 2021“).
If you can not be in Greece during Easter time, but you are curious, then read below what Greek Easter is about, and/or watch some videos!
Experiencing Orthodox and Catholic Easter the same year! Yes, it is possible!
Greek Orthodox Easter is celebrated by most Greeks, all over the world. But many people are also experiencing two different Easters in one family, depending on their cultural backgrounds.
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When visiting Greece, it’s not only about delicious meals in cozy taverns and relaxing days at the beach (although… we highly recommend both ). Many travelers, especially our Omilo students, love to dive a little deeper: exploring ancient sites, attending concerts, or even experiencing a live theatre performance under the Greek sky.
And here comes the good news…
At the stunning archaeological site of Epidaurus, combined with a visit to the charming village of Palaia Epidaurus, you can enjoy all of this in one place! History, culture, nature, and atmosphere…perfectly combined.
Kathara Deftera, or Clean Monday, is an important day for Greeks.
We celebrate the end of the Carnival and the beginning of fasting which leads to Easter (forty days later).
In 2026, Καθαρά Δευτέρα will be on February 23rd.
Carnival in Greece is a big winter celebration, during which Greeks enjoy themselves, organize parties and eat a lot of meat!
In 2026, the festivities will take place between February 2nd and 22nd, . Followed by „Kathara devtera“ on February 23rd, 2026.
The aim of Carnival is to encourage all citizens, and visitors, to be a part of a lively, fun-filled celebration, which takes place in many venues, squares, streets and schools of villages, towns, or city neighborhoods. Read more about those traditions, while learning useful Greek vocabulary.
Winter in Greece is never boring, and for those who thought that Greece is only a summer country, you couldn’t be more wrong :-).
Due to its varied nature and culture, Greece has to offer something in any season!
In general, we had a a sunny and warm end of the year, but we expect any moment the winter to start…
Better be prepared, and get your warm cloths ready…or start planning your winter trip to Greece!
On the first day of the New Year, many Greek homes welcome the year ahead by breaking open a pomegranate for good luck. This beautiful ritual is believed to bring health, prosperity, and abundance to the household. It is also common in Greece to exchange pomegranates (ρόδι), often made of metal, glass, or ceramic, as New Year’s gifts. These symbolic objects are known as γούρια; charms meant to bring good fortune for the year to come.
There are many Greek Christmas and New Year Traditions in Greece! Here below you will find more information about those traditions.
In the meantime, in order to improve your listening skills, you can click on the button below, where you will find the translation in Greek
as well as the Audio
When we think about the Month of December in Greece, we usually think of winter and celebrations. Let’s learn more about a typical Greek December Month.
October 28th – Oxi Day & Greek National Holiday03/10/2026 - 1:00 p.m.
Fygame! Greek Language Book – Off we go to learn Greek! + AUDIO26/09/2026 - 2:23 p.m.
Wildfires in Greece: How to save your life in case of emergency05/08/2026 - 3:17 p.m.
Learn More About Greek Music and Greek Singer Eleftheria Arvanitaki10/06/2026 - 7:12 p.m.Contact
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