“No” (Ochi) day commemorates the events of October 28,1940, when Emanele Grazzi, the Italian ambassador, delivered an ultimatum to Greek Dictator Ioannis Metaxas at 3 a.m. in the morning. The message from Benito Mussolini demanded that Metaxas allow the Italian army free passage to enter and occupy strategic sites in Greece. Faced with this demand, Metaxas responded in French, the diplomatic language of the day. He said, “Alors, c’est la guerre. (Then it is War).” CLICK HERE for more info on the National Holiday