"Happy Oxi Day!" Topic

On this day in 1940, the Fascists that had overthrown the Italian government sent a letter to the PM of Greece demanding basically complete capitulation. PM Metaxas, wanting to outpith Leonidas, responded "Oxi", that is, "No".

At least that's the story. He probably said a lot more than that, but it makes for a nice holiday title, and significantly nicer for the kiddies than quoting what I would have said.

Plus, I like to play the ensuing invasion, since not only did the home team repel it, but it was an all hands effort with the people really pitching in. Much like my fave in May, the Battle of Puebla.

I could drink a glass of metaxa to that!

Hmm… I probably can find Metaxa around here without too much difficulty. Well, that's what weekends are for.

Ouzo and raki are both for apre jeux. Grappa during the game.

No gyros, but Greek salad and fakelava (baklava using layers of flaky biscuit dough from a can instead of phyllo) were on the menu.

The Greeks won an overwhelming victory. Unfortunately, I was playing the other side this time.

I guess "Nuts!" wouldn't translate.

I'm sure that if "Come at me, Bro" had been a saying in the 40's, it would have been top of the list of possible responses. I always imagined Mataxas like this …

As opposed to a fictional character telling someone to "Bring it", this was a real world leader … and his entire country was right there with the sentiment.

The Battle of Crete ranks up there as a close second on the attitude scale. Massive civilian resistance to the Axis invasion. Many people I know say it wasn't as Axis victory, but rather the battle went on for four years beyond what the history books tell you it did. :)