Changing Of The Guards Athens 2017 New Year's Day - Evzones at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

The changing of the guards in Athens happens every hour at the Parliament building in front of Syntagma Square. Each Sunday at 11.00am though, the ceremony is more elaborate.
The guards are a specially picked division known as the Evzones, and serving with the Evzones is considered to be a great honour. The Changing of the Guards takes place in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier which is in front of the Parliament building.
I filmed this changing of the guards ceremony in Athens on Sunday January 1st 2017.
Read more here: www.davestrave...
Planning a trip to Athens and thinking about safety issues? Take a look here: www.davestrave...
If you are looking for things to do and see in Athens, I've got a great blog post one what to see in Athens in 2 days here - www.davestrave...
#athens #greece

[@chrisoulamanika3221]

I have seen the change of the guards many times but I never get bored seeing it again.

[@authenticfoodquest]

That is quite a changing of the guard's experience. I've seen the changing of the guard's in many countries including the U.K. and this one takes the cake for being so large....and with such elaborate costumes. Great capture!!

[@Montragon29]

A few notes regarding the army and the "Presidential Guard" as the Corps is known in Greek Armed Forces. All the men you see in traditional uniforms of the Greek revolution of 1821 (against the occupying Turks after 400 years of slavery) are soldiers, trained, and part of an elite group that apart from guarding the monument to the unkown soldier(yes their rifles are battle ready)are assigned posts as personal guards to various military figures such as the head of the armed forces. Every Sunday in Athens and in Thessaloniki there is a special ceremony that accompanies the changing of the guard and that is the raising of the flag.(in Thessaloniki, although much less glamorous and without any special forces it is performed under the White Tower monument) This happens everywhere in Greece (in all the military camps) every sunrise and sundown but Sundays are always special...Also most soldiers are what we call "reserves" but not exactly...In Greece every able bodied man must complete a military tour of duty(it has come down to 12months from 24 that was in the past...) before he is discharged and be able to continue with his life. All men are obligated by law to do so after they turn 18. Students and other circumstances may postpone military drafting for some years. We are all trained in military combat and after discharge we brush off our skills every now and then with oficial decree that gives us special leave from work for a few days. So in case someone wondered if they are just showroom soldiers, no they are not. They are in fact some of the most hardened and battle ready soldiers in the Greek Armed Forces and although they undergo brutal training all people are proud of their sons serving there...Greetings from Greece!

[@DaveBriggs]

Thanks very much for the additional info!

[@Montragon29]

Dave Briggs Don't mention it...if you have any questions about Greece or its history I'd be happy to answer them.

[@johndudley9118]

Fascinating To watch, very unique marching style, along with so much history To go with it all. Cheers To Greece.

[@WanderingWagars]

What a cool thing to watch. I love how it's like a celebration

[@ReflectionsEnroute]

Wow, that's a much larger changing of the guards than I've ever seen in Athens. Totally cool.

[@eleniasimop]

The large thing is only on Sunday

[@_hopeless_romantic_]

This happens every single Sunday in Athens #respect

[@karolfrench5816]

Powerful. THANKYOU

[@DeafinitelyWanderlust]

Oh wow that's so cool to see. I've seen one in South Korea and Washington DC but it's really to cool see it in other countries.

[@RudderlessMedia]

That is very cool. I did not know they did that in Athens. I know of some other countries besides the obvious in London that did that , never knew Greece did too.

[@aggelossr9062]

You can also hear the cannonballs from the Athens hill!

[@DavidCulshawmer-r]

my mate Tony genodopolus was one of those many years ago before he moved to England :)

[@DaveBriggs]

David Culshaw It's a very honourable role

[@ElaineMasters]

That's totally unique. I love the high step and how that one shoe has taps on it. Why the uniform includes a white, pleated skirt has me curious!

[@sscoobyman]

The Evzones is the name of several historical elite infantry and mountain units of the Greek Army.
The first reference for the Evzones was from Homer, for the Mirmidones of Achilles
The Evzones are beating their shoes (tsarouhia) for ancestors to hear that we are alive and free.
The tsaruhia weigh is about 3 Kg each and the red color symbolizes the blood spilled into the wars. also the tsaruhia , had 60 nails to hook on the ground in the inaccessible mountain areas and were pointed to be used as weapons in body-wrestling.
the same symbolizes the color and the hat (or fareo), plus the
long black tassel that symbolizes the tears for the people who gave their lives for thr freedom.
The shirt has a white color, which generally dominates the whole of the Evzone uniform, is considered to symbolize the purity of the national competitions.
The bottom part of the uniform it call Fustanela and have 400 folds because so were the years of slavery from the Ottoman domination.

[@rafaellagaribaldi9391]

Elaine Masters
The pleated fustanella was worn by the highland warrior clans and suited the terrain the terrain and climate and was more practical than trousers

[@dorianphilotheates3769]

Rafaella Garibaldi - Buona risposta.

[@user-my5vm1ct2v]

do you need any permission to film them( and post on youtube)?