Subject: Didn't know of that custom...
Author:
Posted on: 2015-05-14 14:57:00 UTC
But who cares, let's have fun.
-Sets a table with tea and scones-
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Happy Name Day, everybody! by
on 2015-05-14 11:37:00 UTC
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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
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Cause some people celebrate those, too.
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Hmm... maybe? I mean, everyday is somebody's name day by
on 2015-05-14 19:02:00 UTC
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We do have All Saints' Day on November 1st, but that's more religious thing.
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Didn't know of that custom... by
on 2015-05-14 14:57:00 UTC
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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
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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"
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Hasn't made it to England, either. by
on 2015-05-14 15:51:00 UTC
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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
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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.
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Originally, yes. Now, not so much. by
on 2015-05-14 18:01:00 UTC
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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
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Indeed you're right hS! by
on 2015-05-14 15:59:00 UTC
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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.