Observance guideSource-backed

Independence Day2026 · Date · History

Greece’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs identifies March 25 with the beginning of the 1821–1830 independence struggle, while the Ministry of Labour lists Greek Independence Day on March 25 as a compulsory public holiday under Article 60 of Law 4808/2021.

Annual dateReviewed 2026-10-01Sensitive topic

About Independence Day

Greek Independence Day is observed on March 25. Greece’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs describes the date as marking the beginning of the Greek struggle against the Ottoman Empire from 1821 to 1830 that culminated in an independent Greek state.

Under current labour law, March 25 is a compulsory public holiday. The date also coincides with the religious feast of the Annunciation, but the civic Independence Day identity is kept distinct.

Why Independence Day matters

March 25 serves as Greece’s national commemoration of the independence struggle that began in 1821.

The observance marks the start of the struggle rather than a single legal act that instantly created the independent Greek state; current holiday law is a later statutory layer.

History of Independence Day

The Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs states that March 25 marks the commencement of the Greek people’s 1821–1830 struggle against the Ottoman Empire.

That struggle culminated in the establishment of an independent Greek state.

Article 60 of Law 4808/2021 lists Greek Independence Day on March 25 among compulsory public holidays.

March 25 is also traditionally commemorated as the Annunciation; the reviewed sources support both meanings on the same date without treating the religious feast as the origin of the civic independence observance.

Origins & establishment

What the evidence establishes

Evidence & sources ↓

Confirmed institutional roles and milestones are shown first. Details that could not be established from the reviewed sources are listed separately below.

Why this exact date?March 25 commemorates the beginning in 1821 of the Greek struggle against the Ottoman Empire that culminated in the establishment of an independent Greek state.The Hellenic Ministry of Foreign Affairs directly states this historical rationale; current labour guidance separately verifies March 25 as Greek Independence Day and a compulsory public holiday.

8 fields not established in reviewed sources

Originator / proposerThis is a national independence commemoration rather than a creator-led campaign.

Proclaiming / establishing bodyThe reviewed sources do not establish the authority that first created the recurring annual Independence Day observance as a separate lifecycle event.

Original establishing instrument / decisionHistorical statehood instruments and later holiday law are kept separate from the unresolved original instrument that first created the recurring annual observance.

Original instrument adoption / decision dateNo original recurring-holiday instrument adoption date is established in the reviewed sources.

Current facilitator / coordinatorThis is a national civic/public-holiday commemoration rather than an organizer-led campaign.

First observanceThe historical date and current recurrence are supported, but the first recurring annual observance is not separately established with sufficient precision.

Former nameNo formal former recurring name is established in the reviewed sources.

Former dateNo former recurring date is established in the reviewed sources.

Later institutional actions

Later recognition, renaming, mergers or date changes are kept separate from original establishment.

RecognitionLists Greek Independence Day on March 25 among compulsory public holidays.Hellenic Republic · Article 60 of Law 4808/2021 · 2021Modeled as current statutory holiday recognition, not as the original creation of the civic independence commemoration.

Source qualityHigh confidence

2 Primary institutional / legal

View all sources ↓

Names

Also known as

Greek Independence Day

How to Observe Independence Day

Read Greek diplomatic and historical material about the 1821–1830 independence struggle.

Review current labour-law guidance to understand the modern public-holiday status of March 25.

Explore museums, archives or educational resources about the Greek War of Independence and formation of the modern state.

When writing about March 25, distinguish the civic Independence Day commemoration from the separate religious feast of the Annunciation.

Independence Day Facts

Fact 01

The recurring calendar date for Greek Independence Day is March 25.

Fact 02

The date marks the beginning of the Greek independence struggle in 1821, not a single one-day legal creation of the state.

Fact 03

The struggle continued through the 1820s and culminated in an independent Greek state.

Fact 04

Article 60 of Law 4808/2021 lists March 25 as a compulsory public holiday.

Fact 05

March 25 also coincides with the religious feast of the Annunciation.

Classification

Topic and context

Civic, Remembrance & History →

Accuracy notes

What this page does not assume

Keep the source-defined country, community, organizer or institutional scope; do not silently broaden it.
Do not treat the title alone as proof of government recognition or public-holiday status.
Do not add a creator, founding story or origin claim unless the supporting evidence establishes it.
Remembrance Civic Context Care.

Evidence

Evidence & sources

Source policy →

Sources used across the guide are gathered here. Labels show how each source supports the page, and contextual references are kept separate from primary evidence.

Source 01www.mfa.gr

Hellenic Ministry of Foreign Affairs — Greek Independence Day (opens in a new tab)

Observance recordPrimary institutional / legalGuide sources

National Foreign Ministry History

Source 02ypergasias.gov.gr

Hellenic Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs — Official public holidays (opens in a new tab)

Observance recordPrimary institutional / legalGuide sources

National Labour Law Guidance

Questions & connections

Understand it, compare it, then explore further

Start with the most common factual questions, then compare closely related observances and explore useful connections.

Reader questions

Frequently asked questions

When is Independence Day?

25 March The documented recurrence rule is: 25 March.

Does Independence Day fall on the same date every year?

Yes. It uses a fixed annual date unless stronger evidence changes the pattern.

Is Independence Day an official public holiday?

Within the reviewed scope, it is identified as Greece / March 25 independence commemoration and compulsory public holiday. That status is not automatically extended to other countries or jurisdictions.

Who established or recognizes Independence Day?

The documented basis is: Greece’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs identifies March 25 with the beginning of the 1821–1830 independence struggle, while the Ministry of Labour lists Greek Independence Day on March 25 as a compulsory public holiday under Article 60 of Law 4808/2021.. Supporting evidence includes Hellenic Ministry of Foreign Affairs — Greek Independence Day. The site does not infer a separate creator or founder unless reviewed evidence establishes one.

Is Independence Day international or country-specific?

This observance is specific to Greece. Its fuller verified scope is: Greece / March 25 independence commemoration and compulsory public holiday.

How is this page verified?

The factual information is checked against reviewed sources, including the date pattern, scope and institutional history. This page was checked on 2026-10-01.

When is Greek Independence Day?

It is observed on March 25.

What does March 25 commemorate?

It marks the beginning of the Greek struggle for independence in 1821, which continued through the decade and culminated in an independent state.

Is March 25 a compulsory public holiday in Greece?

Yes. The Ministry of Labour lists Greek Independence Day on March 25 among compulsory public holidays under Article 60 of Law 4808/2021.

Is March 25 also a religious day?

Yes. It also coincides with the Annunciation, but that religious observance is distinct from the civic Independence Day meaning.

Same date