Changing of the Guard

Parliament is guarded by evzones, which are guards dressed in the traditional uniform of a short skirt and brogues with pompoms. On the hour, three replacements arrive parading along Vasilissis Sofias and it makes for a picturesque changing of the guard ceremony. On Sundays and holidays the evzones appear, displaying all their medallions, for a longer ceremony which also includes a military band. The uniform is inspired by the kleftas worn by the rebels of the War of Independence: the red fez symbolizes the bloodshed and the skirts have 400 pleats, one for each year of the Turkish occupation. It