Under a cloudy Athenian sky, students marched through the streets of central Athens today in the annual parade commemorating the national anniversary of March 25, 1821. The event, a longstanding tradition, saw young participants proudly honoring the historic struggle for Greek independence.
Spectators lined the avenues, waving flags and capturing moments of the celebration, as the city paid tribute to a defining moment in its history.
Representative groups of students from schools across the Municipality of Athens marched through the city center, passing the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the Greek Parliament, accompanied by the Athens Municipal Philharmonic Orchestra. The parade also featured bands from the Hellenic Police, the Hellenic Air Force, and the Fire Service.
The event drew large crowds, including representatives of the country’s state, political, religious, and military leadership.
In addition, the parade included participants from the Special Olympics team, the Pancretan Union of Athens, the Areopoli Mani Association, the Folegandros Association, the Hellenic Guiding Association, and the Scouts of Greece.
Earlier, a wreath-laying ceremony took place at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, attended by the Minister of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports, Sophia Zacharaki; the president of the “Course of Freedom” party, Zoe Konstantopoulou; and the Mayor of Athens, Haris Doukas, among others. The national anthem was also performed during the ceremony.
Traffic in the city center is gradually returning to normal.
