Subject: Hmm... maybe? I mean, everyday is somebody's name day
Author:
Posted on: 2015-05-14 19:02:00 UTC
We do have All Saints' Day on November 1st, but that's more religious thing.
-
Happy Name Day, everybody! by
on 2015-05-14 11:37:00 UTC
Reply
In case you don't know, my American friends, a name day is a tradition in many countries in Europe and Latin America that consists of celebrating a day of the year that is associated with one's given name.
Today, May 14th, is a name day for (among others): Jeremy, Victor, Michael, Maciej (or, Mattias - that's me!), Mary, Ampelia, Ampelius, and Fenenna.
Anyway, bring out those cakes! Let's party!!! -
So, are those like your saint's days? by
on 2015-05-14 18:48:00 UTC
Reply
Cause some people celebrate those, too.
-
Hmm... maybe? I mean, everyday is somebody's name day by
on 2015-05-14 19:02:00 UTC
Reply
We do have All Saints' Day on November 1st, but that's more religious thing.
-
Didn't know of that custom... by
on 2015-05-14 14:57:00 UTC
Reply
But who cares, let's have fun.
-Sets a table with tea and scones- -
I was surprised it wasn't known in America... by
on 2015-05-14 15:48:00 UTC
Reply
It is pretty common, at least here in Poland. While birthdays are celebrated, too, name days are more like a way to meet with friends and have a drink together. I.e. people from Italy know this as "Onomastico"
-
Hasn't made it to England, either. by
on 2015-05-14 15:51:00 UTC
Reply
Can I hazard a guess that it's a Roman Catholic thing originally? It sounds like it might have its source in saints' days, and Poland, Italy, and South America are (I think) traditionally Catholic.
Wait, I don't need to guess - you probably know. So tell?
hS -
According to Wikpedia, by
on 2015-05-14 19:53:00 UTC
Reply
you're exactly right: the "name day" celebration has its roots in the Catholic celebration of saints' days--so it makes perfect sense that traditionally-Protestant nations like the UK and the US don't celebrate them.
-
Originally, yes. Now, not so much. by
on 2015-05-14 18:01:00 UTC
Reply
Although yes, originally it was connected to the celebration of one's own patron saint, there is no longer any explicit connection to Christianity. I'm a Wiccan (or, at least, soon-to-be one) and I still celebrate it :D
-
Indeed you're right hS! by
on 2015-05-14 15:59:00 UTC
Reply
In fact, here in Mexico, is greeted with "Feliz Día de tu Santo." (lit.: "Happy Day of your Saint."). It even has its own celebratory song! It's not celebrated as it used to be though, it has been falling out of favor over the last decades.