Members of Peabody's Greek-American community came together at City Hall on Wednesday afternoon to celebrate Greek Independence Day with music, dancing and lots of baklava.

Dozens of students from St. Vasilios Greek School, their parents, and family members gathered outside City Hall to watch Mayor Michael Bonfanti, St. Vasilios Greek Orthodox Church pastor, Father Chris Foustoukos, and Speros Venios, a past president of the church, raise the Greek flag.

Inside the Frank Wiggin Auditorium, Bonfanti put the day and the many contributions made by the city's Greek community into perspective for the school children. Female students wore traditional Amalia, which consist of long skirts and maroon jackets, and the male students donned Evzonies, which also feature skirts.

Bonfanti said Peabody has always prided itself on its diversity and its Greek-American community. He noted that many Greek immigrants at the turn of the 2oth century came to Peabody to work in the leather tanneries. Over time, their children became police officers, firefighters, small business owners, city councilors, mayors and served in Congress.

Bonfanti said his friend, Steve Yonkis, a former state bank examiner who also worked for the Federal Reserve Bank and later served as Peabody's city collector, "loved where he came from. He loved the heritage and he loved his church."

He said Yonkis is one of many examples of Greek-Americans who took great pride in their family heritage and worked hard to get an education and enjoy good careers.

"Be proud that you are American and be proud of your Greek heritage," Bonfanti told the children.

The school children then performed several traditional Greek dances on stage to celebrate Greek Independence Day, which is observed as a national holiday in Greece on March 25. Greece obtained its independence on March 25, 1821 and this year's marked the 190th anniversary.

The students performed dances such as Baidouska, Fisouni, Kotsari, and Partalos before they and their audience enjoyed baklava and tiropites and other refreshments.

Nearly all of the Greek-American city residents who attended the celebration are members of the St. Vasilios Greek Orthodox Church, which has 1,600 member families.

Dina Kalaitzidis, principal of the St. Vasilios Greek School, said she has 70 students in grades Kindergarten through 7th who take afternoon programs to learn the Greek language and culture. She also grew up in Peabody and attended the school as a child.

"I'm very honored the city does this every year," she said. "It's great to see the Greek flag (flying) in front of City Hall."

Kalaitzidis also said events like the annual Greek Independence Day celebration show that Peabody still has a very vibrant Greek-American community. She said some of the children who attend her school come from fifth generation families.