What Happened on March 25?

March 25 is Greek Independence Day, celebrating the day Greece began fighting to become a free country — and it's also the birthday of the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin!

• 1821 — Greece begins its War of Independence

  Greeks rose up against nearly 400 years of Ottoman rule, starting a nine-year fight that won back their freedom — celebrated every March 25. Read the full story →

• 1911 — Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire changes workplace safety laws

  A deadly garment-factory fire in New York City took 146 lives — mostly young immigrant women — and shocked America into passing real workplace safety laws. Read the full story →

• 1957 — Six nations sign the Treaty of Rome, creating Europe's Common Market

  Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and West Germany signed a treaty creating the European Economic Community — a giant step toward today's European Union. Read the full story →

Famous birthdays

Aretha Franklin (1942–2018) · Elton John (1947) · Béla Bartók (1881–1945) · Sarah Jessica Parker (1965)

Days & observances

Greek Independence Day · Feast of the Annunciation