We greatly admire people working towards conservation activities and this factors into our celebrations of Audubon Day on April 26 each year. Held to commemorate the birth of John James Audubon, a brilliant illustrator, conservationist, ornithologist, and naturalist, this day also recognizes the crucial work done by The National Audubon Society.
Ohi Day
Ohi Day, also known as Oxi Day or Ochi Day, is commemorated each year on October 28 in Greece and Cyprus, and by all the Greeks living around the world. This day is celebrated in remembrance of the moment when the then prime minister of Greece, Ioannis Metaxas, refused to let the Italian troops enter Greece’s border on October 28, 1940, during the Greco-Italian War. After receiving an ultimatum from the Italians, he responded in French (which was the diplomatic language at that time) that Greece refuses their demand even if it leads to war. Following this, Metaxas’s refusal became famous around the country and the people came out to the streets, shouting “Oxi!” (which means “No!” in Greek). This is remembered as a brave decision by Metaxas and is believed by millions of Greeks to be a heroic act.
Great Poetry Reading Day
Someone great once said that words are humans’ greatest weapons, and to really appreciate the value behind this saying, National Today is all set to celebrate Great Poetry Reading Day on April 28. Poetry, being a branch of literature, lends us a medium to convey thoughts and feelings by weaving words into simplistic and/or intricate designs using methods like rhyme, meter, metaphors, personification, etc. Much like prose, poetry, too, tells a story and, in this case, it can do so simply by using the number of words in a row or the placement of punctuation in a certain manner. In the old days, if you were a poet, poetry was a means of settling scores with your competitor and reaching new heights of fame. Kings and queens would appoint a poet in their court to sing the ruler’s praises and degrade their enemies.