Thessaloniki celebrated Greece's Independence Day, a national public holiday, with a large student parade along the city's seafront, bringing together young people, civic groups and officials in a public display of remembrance and national identity.
The annual March 25 celebration commemorates the start of the Greek Revolution of 1821, a defining moment in the country's modern history that led to its independence from the Ottoman Empire.
With the presence of several political and religious leaders, this year's event took place in warm spring weather and temperatures around 20°C, drawing crowds of residents and visitors to the waterfront to watch and applaud the parade.
The procession began with members of the "Pavlos Melas" group, a patriotic association honouring Greek fighters from the early 20th-century Macedonia conflict, before the Balkan Wars. It was followed by representatives of the Hellenic Red Cross and veterans' associations.
The main body of the parade featured pupils from primary and secondary schools across the city, marching in formation to the sound of the municipal philharmonic band. A key highlight on Greece's national calendar, the event also symbolises intergenerational continuity, as schools participate to honour the legacy of those who fought for independence two centuries ago.
