The parade historically evolved as a public event that kept the national morale high, serving in parallel and briefly as an arena of social cohesion, especially in the urban environments that are characterized by heterogeneity and anonymity. As an event it is taking place on national holidays, that is in a day off from work and a condition that favors gathering. It is also an opportunity for the younger and for the older to see with bare eyes the well-polished gear of war, to inspect the protection mechanism against any kind of outside threat. The gathering of a wider audience for a mostly military procession is bearing automatically adrenaline. In the recent period, and in an era of extended peace, doubts have been risen for the parade’s necessity and expense at a time with adverse financial weather conditions. This year is the only perhaps in the recent history of the country in which parades have been called off, as the highest priority is another war, that of public health against an invisible enemy. It may be then a sudden chance for someone to recollect emotions and memories on the phenomenon, to weigh presences and absences, the value of habit against that of change. [Photo: Yiannis Stylianou, Parade, 1967, ©Yiannis Stylianou Archive / MOMus-Thessaloniki Museum of Photography]