Boston traded its usual Irish green for blue and white over the weekend, as the Boston Common and the streets around it filled with generations of Greeks, Greek Americans and even a few locals waving the national flag in the little-noticed community’s annual celebration of its Hellenic heritage.

International dignitaries commemorated the 186th anniversary of Greece’s independence from Turkey with a parade and reception at the State House on Friday.

Greek officials honored accomplished Greek Americans in Massachusetts, including former Sen. Paul Tsongas — who was recognized posthumously with a lifetime achievement award for his work in the Greek community — and former governor Michael Dukakis.

“The Greek Americans are grateful to the [United States] and they are loyal, but at the same time not forgetting their mother country,” said Greek Consul General Efthymios Efthymiades.

Along with several members of the Greek Parliament, the United States consuls general of Albania, Canada, Cyprus, Ireland, Israel, Laos, Poland and Venezuela attended the commemoration.

Local celebrities, including Miss Massachusetts U.S.A. Delpina Delios, showed their own blue and white as well.

Delios, a native of Lynn, said the parade is important for Boston’s Greek American population to remember its heritage, which she said helped her under stress when she achieved her title last November.

“I think it’s very important to do [the celebration] in Massachusetts, because a lot of Greeks immigrated to Massachusetts,” she said.

Though the actual day commemorating Greek independence falls on March 25, Boston traditionally celebrates in late April because several Greek dignitaries traditionally attend the Massachusetts celebration in April, said Emmanuel Flaris, legislative aide to Sen. Steven Panagiotakos (D-Lowell).

There is a large Greek American community in the area, especially in Lowell and Peabody, he added.

Greek Archdiocese Metropolitan Dance Group Director John Pappas, who started teaching Greek dancing 10 years ago as a sophomore at Boston University, said his dance group has been performing in the parade for the past 13 years. Showing off traditional dance moves brings Greek Americans closer to their history, he said.

“Folk dancing sort of ties [the two cultures] together,” Pappas said. “It brings everything full circle.”

College of General Studies freshman Jaime Argyriadis said she attended the parade to watch her cousins perform.

“I go to the festivals all the time,” said Argyriadis, a Yarmouth native. “It’s really great, because we’re a very tight-knit community.”