By Mary Kekatos and Ang Li
Every year, hundreds of churches, schools and organizations gather on Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue for the Greek Independence Day Parade–the largest Greek event in the United States. The celebration commemorates March 25, 1821 when the Greek people claimed their independence after 400 years of rule under the Turkish Ottoman Empire. More than 100,000 participants and spectators gather each year for the parade that begins on East 64th Street and ends on East 79th Street. The Grand Marshal of this year’s parade was Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the head of Greece’s New Democracy opposition party, and honored guests included Mayor Bill de Blasio and Senator Charles Schumer. A taste of this year’s celebration:
40 years of white berets and mini-skirts
The members of the PTA of the Greek School of Plato in Brooklyn have dressed in the same uniform for the parade for almost 40 years. (Mary Kekatos)
Although the children of the Greek School of Plato in Brooklyn are known for being members of the band that opens the Greek Independence Day Parade, it’s perhaps the ladies of the PTA that have more of the notoriety. A rather traditional uniform that many women wear to attend Manhattan’s annual parade is that of a navy blue suit, white beret and blue scarf. However, what isn’t known is that the uniform is actually the tradition of the women of the Brooklyn school’s PTA – a tradition they’ve kept alive for almost 40 years now.
“We definitely started a tradition,” said Mary Roros, seen above, center, in a white beret. “Now at the parade, we’ve seen so many organizations copy our uniform. But I love it. For what other reason besides Greek Independence Day would I be wearing a white beret, heels and a mini-skirt?” – Mary Kekatos
The Man with the Flags
Urgiles sells flags to girls from St. Nicholas Church in Flushing. (Ang Li)
Jorge Urgiles holds a bunch of Greek flags in his hands, but he was not there to march in the parade. He isn’t even Greek. Urgiles is a vendor who sells flags and souvenirs for this special occasion: the annual Greek Independence Day Parade. He walks past the costumed crowd waiting for their turn to get on the main street. Sometimes, he stops along the way when people ask for the price or to buy a flag. Urgiles, originally from Ecuador, has been living in Manhattan for the past 24 years. He works in construction, but whenever there is a cultural celebration like Sunday’s parade, he hits the streets and makes some extra cash by selling flags of different countries. On average, Urgiles said he makes around $100 a day. – Ang Li
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- New York City police officers get ready to kick of the 195th Annual Greek Independence Day Parade. (Mary Kekatos)
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- Spectators await the NYPD Marching Band. (Ang Li)
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- Marchers dress as Greek “evzones.” Their uniform is the most widely recognizable Greek military dress from the soldiers that fought in the War of Independence. (Mary Kekatos)
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- A young marcher waves a Greek flag at the beginning of the Greek Independence Day Parade. (Mary Kekatos)
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- A young marcher wears a traditional “Amalia” costume in honor of the first Queen of Greece. (Mary Kekatos)
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- Young marchers wear traditional Greek costumes as they walk down Fifth Avenue. (Mary Kekatos)
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- A vintage FDNY vehicle carries parade marchers down Fifth Avenue. (Mary Kekatos)
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- Children in “Amalia” costumes watch the parade from their strollers. (Ang Li)
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- Archbishop Demetrios of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America welcomes parade spectators.
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- Young marchers wait on a float on a side street until they’re ready to join the procession. (Mary Kekatos)
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- A father fixes his son’s cap befoe they join the parade. (Ang Li)
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- Participants pass time as they wait to march. (Ang Li)
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- A member of the Scottish Pope Band excitedly poses while crossing the street. (Ang Li)
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- Three of the nine Greek members of the Fort Lee, NJ Police Department pose while waiting to march. (Ang Li)
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- Spectators go all out with Greek pride. (Ang Li)
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- Children from St. Markella Church in Astoria pose as they wait to march. (Ang Li)
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- Girls from St. Francis Preperatory School in Fresh Meadows paint blue on their faces while waiting to march. (Ang Li)
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- Greek and American flags wave together on Fifth Avenue. (Ang Li)
