On the Road is a weekday feature spotlighting reader photo submissions.
From the exotic to the familiar, whether you’re traveling or in your own backyard, we would love to see the world through your eyes.
ema
Here is what I learned at my first Greek Day Parade (36:46 min):
1) Zito Ellada! (Long Live Greece!)
This was very easy and fun to learn. Everybody at the parade, from officials, to marchers, to spectators kept enthusiastically saying it every few minutes.
2) Greece is the center of the world.
Every country considers itself, implicitly, the center of the world. Apparently, for Greek Day it’s a parade theme. Everything that has ever happened in Greece – from the War of Independence to assorted massacres – has had an earth-shattering impact on the world.
No doubt (said she while discreetly googling info about the massacre of Chios), and I know that Europeans are really into their history but, is a parade really the place to have floats about centuries-old massacres?
3) Türkiye is bad.
Another unique parade theme was “Türkiye Is Just the Worst!” I mean, you always see an “England Out of Ireland” sign here and there on St. Patrick’s Day, but I’ve never been to a parade where hating on another country was so out in the open.
You don’t see “China Is Garbage” or “Pakistan Is Bad” floats at the Japan Day or Indian Day event. At this parade, if you were a Turkish tourist, or of Turkish descent, I don’t think you would have fully enjoyed Greek Day.
4) Greek soldiers love mustaches. (Is that an appropriate parade lesson? Probably not, but I have photographic proof it’s an accurate one.)
Last, but not least, what is happening with the mustache situation of the Greek troops? I thought soldiers are supposed to be clean-shaven.
Also, while I appreciated the opportunity to see them up close (I wouldn’t mind them marching weekly up and down 5th Ave. for my viewing pleasure), they looked to me to be part of an elite ceremonial unit. As such, I cannot imagine that they were too keen on being ordered to fly halfway across the world just to parade for a few minutes for some randos in NYC.
Bottom line: I would definitely recommend watching the Greek Day parade if you happen to be in NYC. You learn a bit about Greece and you definitely have quite the unique experience.
Loved the dancing in the streets (16s) …
and on floats (18s), and …
the dancing dresses (22s).
I am quite proud of this flag transition (20s) I came up with on the spot, one which I am certain has never been done before in the history of filming.
Because it’s just not a parade without massacre floats!
I really liked this vintage fire truck. (How old am I?)
Traditional attire from various regions of Greece.
It wasn’t just the floats. Everybody at the parade was quite enthusiastic about their “Boo Türkiye” chants (10s). (I don’t speak Greek but it was easy to figure out the sentiment.)
Best parade supervisor ever! (9s)
Last, but not least, Greek soldiers. Mustaches. Enough said. (23s)
War for Ukraine Day 1,183: A Quick Thursday Night Update
Baud
Geminid should probably skip this parade.
Baud
That last shot is really cool. Good perspective.
Maxim
Never mind the mustaches … they all have big poofballs on the ends of their shoes. How did that costume originate, I wonder, because you can hardly call it a uniform.
oldster
Seeing those guys stomp around in their wooden clogs always makes my knees hurt.
Greek ethnocentrism is like the ethnocentrism of every other petty tribe of monkeys on this planet, only it is better, more historic, more enlightened and philosophical, and has a greater global significance, indeed a cosmic significance. Just ask them.
I kid, but the times that I spent in Greece and among Greek people were some of the best times in my life. Zito Ellada.
Pittsburgh Mike
I think this: “Everything that has ever happened in Greece – from the War of Independence to assorted massacres – has had an earth-shattering impact on the world” actually understates things.
The claim is typically stronger: “Anything good that ever happened on earth happened because of events in Greece.”
Gloria DryGarden
@oldster: the Greek people I stayed with in Athens and on kerkira were some of the warmest most hospitable and shockingly generous people I had ever met. It’s a long ago memory that has stayed with me.
oldster
@Gloria DryGarden:
Of course, our experiences come from a time when America was a champion of democracy and human rights, protecting Europe from Russian domination. Now that we are Russia’s vassal state and the enemy of democracy and human rights, how will we be welcomed?
(And I should add that even decades ago, the CIA had done enough meddling in the neighborhood that I got an earful a few times from Greek people once they knew me well enough to be honest.)
stinger
I’m no expert, but this strikes me as a very wide variety of national costumes and headgear.
As a US Army veteran, I’ve never understood goose-stepping. It’s such an inefficient way of moving forward. Never seen it done by American troops on parade.
I do admire the Flag Transition shot very much! So creative!
Does this sort of thing happen in London or Paris or Mexico City or Oslo or Sydney? Where other countries get a big national parade? I’m sure every country has parades celebrating itself, but this seems like it might be a uniquely American thing. Thank you, ema, for this and your other parade reports — visual reminders that IMMIGRANTS ARE WELCOME HERE.
They Call Me Noni
The Pope pup is adorable and my great-granddaughter would love one of those big, long dresses for spinning. In a few of the pictures the women put me so in mind of Frida Kahlo. Looks like a fun time was had by all. Thank you for sharing.
ema
Thank you all!
eclare
Thank you so much for your photos and commentary, it looks like so much fun!
Athenaze
Yup, the soldiers at the end are the ceremonial guard (the Evzoni). We noticed the mustache thing a few years ago and asked about it. Apparently, around the 200th anniversary of the War of Independence, it became a trend to grow a mustache like those the fighters in the war had. Also, the costume they wear has its origins in the outfits of those fighters as well.
See: Kolokotronis (Theodoros Kolokotronis – Wikipedia), Andreas Miaoulis, Yannis Makriyannis
oldster
Our English word “mustache” or “moustache” is from an Ancient Greek word, “mystax”.
You see? The Greeks even invented mustaches!
Trivia Man
@stinger: my guess – because it looks impressive when a large group does it. There is an inexorable machine vibe – NOTHING CAN STOP US! COWER BEFORE US!
Anyway
Ema, really enjoy your pictures and reports of life in the Big Apple — the parades are a hoot!
Anyway
@eclare: He he – i said the exact same thing below in slightly different words. jinx!
WTFGhost
@Maxim: I suspect the dress uniforms were quite showy, in their day, but I admit, I would desert if I had no choice but to put on those poofball shoes every day, and try to be taken seriously, by anyone, including the enemy.
I’d rack up a lot of kills, but they should have been surrenders, except, they’d start laughing at my shoes, and my army mates would be razzing me, so, I’d have to open fire, and it wouldn’t be *my* fault, it would be the SHOES!
So I’m sure that is no longer the standard infantry issue, battle dress, uniform.
(Okay, fine, I wouldn’t open fire, just because people are laughing at me, but, come on, these are military folks we’re talking about.)
WTFGhost
@oldster:
(complaint)
“I know; America has gone completely insane with hate.”
(complaint)
“I know; America has gone completely insane with hate.”
(complaint)
“I know; America has gone completely insane with hate.”
(etc., ad nauseaum)
People *get* that. They know that a mad ruler can screw things up; many of them have seen it in their histories, or the histories of other nations. That said, this is a bad time to be what used to be called the “ugly American,” who doesn’t see how anyone could find anything wrong with America, “you know, you’d all be speaking German if not for us!”
(Technically, they’d all be speaking *RUSSIAN* if not for us. We freed Europe so the Soviets didn’t. This is not intended to reduce the heroism of D-Day – just, we did win the war in the Pacific, and we helped conclude the war in the Atlantic in a manner that seemed most likely to bring about justice.)