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« On the 28th and 29th of November we celebrate our independence from the Turks. In 1912 they [the Albanians] raised the flag in Vlore. And on the 29th they were liberated from the Germans. Of course, we wouldn’t go to school on that day. We also wouldn’t go to work or anywhere else since these were holidays, big holidays. Every five years even bigger celebrations were held. There was a big parade where even army tanks and the like would take part. But we didn’t have any army tanks with tires and so after the parade something like asphalt slabs or tiles were taken out and the entire boulevard was ruined. And then they would set them right from the beginning. But okay, the state could afford it. It was wasting people’s money in order to show off. There was a very big parade. And one month earlier we would go into training to learn how to march. Okay, I also was a rather tall guy and I always took part. On May Day there was yet another parade, because, okay, the state should of course celebrate May Day since so many people had died in support of workers’ rights. And every year on May Day there was a parade. »
« Of course! In parades too! I tell my brother, "You should go. It’s a great experience." Because in Albania we didn’t have parades. In the beginning me I also didn’t go. I went for the first time when I was in the first grade of gymnasium, though I didn’t know why they did it. Now I have learned why. But even in the beginning I wanted to go. And that was it. Neither my father nor my mother stopped me [from going]. First off it’s nice because you remember the soldiers who fought for Greece. […] And I’d like it very much if there were parades in Albania as well. Because when Hoxha was in power, there were parades. And that was nice. Because you remember those who fought for Greece or for Albania or for Turkey. And I liked it. I wanted to go and I want to go. Why? Because I also know many Greek men and women who don’t feel like going. And I think "Why, you guys? It’s your own country, your own people. Why do you allow the Albanians to join the parade, since you don’t like them? Since you can fill up the parade by yourselves." »
National holidays
