Shortly after 03:00 am on October 28, 1940, the then Italian government sent an ultimatum to Greece through the Italian ambassador in Athens, Emanuele Grazzi, who personally delivered it to Ioannis Metaxas at his home in Kifissia, demanding that the passage of the Italian army be cleared from the Greek-Albanian border in order to then take some strategic points of the Greek kingdom (ports, airports, etc.), for their supply needs and other facilities, with its subsequent advance to Africa.

After reading the text, Metaxas responded to the Italian ambassador in French (the official diplomatic language) with the historical phrase: “Alors, c’est la guerre” (Well, that means war), thereby expressing a negative stance on Italian requests.

At 05:30 a.m., the Greco-Italian War began with a surprise invasion (the ultimatum stipulated that the attack would start at 6 a.m.) of Italian troops in Epirus, so Greece entered the war on the defensive. The so-called “Epic of Saranda” that followed, and the great victories won by the Greek army over the Italians, were set to be celebrated annually on October 28, the day of the delivery of the Italian ultimatum and the refusal of Ioannis Metaxas to consent.

Every year on this day in Thessaloniki there is an official celebration in the presence of the President of the Republic and other officials with a large military parade. Student parades are held in Athens and other cities, and the Greek flag is raised on public and private buildings.

The anniversary of “NO” was celebrated for the first time during the years of occupation. The first celebration took place in the main building and courtyard of the University of Athens on October 28, 1941. On the second anniversary (October 28, 1942), a celebration took place in Syntagma Square at the initiative of EPON and PEAN. organizations. The anniversary was first officially celebrated on 28 October 1944 with a parade in front of Prime Minister Georgios Papandreou.

In 1952, the Greek Church decided to postpone the feast of Agia Skepi from October 1 to October 28, on the grounds that the Virgin Mary helped the Greek army in the Albanian war.

Source: RES-IPE