#galanolefki

[goexploregreece]

Today, I'm going to share some fascinating insights into one of the most iconic flags in the world – the Greek national flag. So grab an ouzo and let's dive into its colourful history.

You might know it as the "blue and white", but did you know the Greek flag is also referred to as the "Γαλανόλευκη" or "Galanolefki" in Greek? It means "blue and white".

The flag consists of nine horizontal stripes alternating between blue and white. The top and bottom stripes are blue, while the white cross on the upper left corner symbolises Eastern Orthodox Christianity, the established religion of the Greeks. Why nine, you ask? Well, it's believed to represent the nine syllables of the Greek phrase "Ελευθερία ή Θάνατος" ("Eleftheria i Thanatos"), which translates to "Freedom or Death" – the famous rallying cry of the Greek War of Independence (1821-1830) against the Ottoman Empire.

As for the colours, blue and white? The blue represents the sky and the sea – two elements deeply intertwined with Greece's identity. The white signifies the purity of the Greek struggle for freedom and independence. Quite poetic, isn't it?

Now, let's jump into a bit of history. Although the modern flag we know today was officially adopted on 22 December 1978, its roots can be traced back to the Byzantine Empire (330-1453 AD). The Byzantine flag featured the double-headed eagle and the imperial colours – yellow and purple. After the fall of the Byzantine Empire, these colours fell out of use, and blue and white emerged as symbols of the Greek nation.

During the Greek War of Independence, different variations of the flag were used by Greek forces. One of the most famous examples is the flag raised by Andreas Londos, a leader in the Greek Revolution, featuring a white cross on a blue background. Another flag, raised by Nikitaras, another revolutionary leader, had the blue cross on a white background.

[elev8gr]

#25martiou #vagmanuilidis #evaggelismostistheotokou #ethnikieorti #parelasi #tsoliadakia #nipia #sxoleio #vintage #memorylane #memory #anthem #blueandwhite #galanolefka #galanolefki #flag #simea #anamniseis #sxolikigiorti (at �Nthia, Evros, Greece)

[portlandflag]

#Repost @avonlea83 (@get_repost) ・・・ Una bandiera sgualcita, simbolo di vacanza essenziale. Sole, mare, cibo e libri. Niente fronzoli. Niente party né serate a tema. Ci si addormenta distrutte. Dalle pedalate per raggiungere le spiagge e dalle nuotate intense fino alla boa. Una vacanza da bagaglio a mano. Satura di tutte le emozioni che amo. #lamiavacanza #lessenziale #cyclades #summervibes #igersgreece #galanolefki #flag #greece #greekflag #euflag (at Greece)