evan

Today is, of course, 4 Germinal, but it's also known in some circles as March 25. It's the Greek national holiday, ikosi-pente martiou, celebrating the beginning of the Greek War of Independence. The Greek revolution is one of my favorites -- rich in fiery spirit, insuperable odds, derring-do, and undying idealism. It also lent English the word eleutheria, what John Fowles in The Magus called "the most Greek of all words": in translation, roughly, freedom.

It's also the traditional feast of the Annunciation, being exactly nine months before Christmas. Since the angel Gabriel gave the Virgin Mary the "good news" (of the virgin birth), in Greek evangelismos, it's also my name day, and the name day of all other Evangelo's out there.

tags: 25 March name day greek greek revolution eleutheria annunciation

• original URL: http://evan.prodromou.name/Journal/4_Germinal_CCXV