Ochi Day in Cyprus ― Date, History, and Details
Ochi Day in Cyprus may be something you want to learn more about, and we want to help with that.
Let's dive deeper into learning more about the history of Ochi Day in Cyprus and why people celebrate or observe it.
History of Ochi Day in Cyprus and How to Celebrate/ Observe It
Ochi Day is a national holiday in Cyprus that commemorates the island’s rejection of a proposed annexation by Greece in 1940. The holiday is celebrated annually on October 28 and is marked by parades, speeches, and other patriotic festivities.
The roots of Ochi Day date back to the early 20th century when Cyprus was a British colony. At that time, there was a strong movement among Cypriots for union with Greece, known as Enosis. In 1931, the British Governor of Cyprus banned all Enosis activities and arrested its leaders. However, the movement continued to grow, and in 1939, Britain proposed that Cyprus be annexed by Greece.
This proposal was met with strong opposition from the Cypriot people, who feared that they would lose their autonomy if Cyprus became part of Greece. On October 28, 1940, a massive rally was held in Nicosia to protest the annexation proposal. This rally, which came to be known as the “Ochi Day rally”, was attended by over 30,000 people.
The rally was a success, and the annexation proposal was eventually dropped. Since then, October 28 has been celebrated as Ochi Day, a day of pride and patriotism for the Cypriot people.