A name day is celebrated by Catholics and Eastern Orthodox Church members when a person shares a name with a saint. It became popular during the Middle Ages as an alternative to birthdays. Not all people with the same name celebrate on the same day, and celebrations vary by country. In the US, it is not commonly celebrated.
A name day is also often called a feast day and is often celebrated by Catholics and members of the Eastern Orthodox Church, particularly in Europe. A name day is celebrated when a person shares a name with a saint on the day designated to honor that saint. So, for example, those named Patrick or Patricia would have celebrated their name day on St. Patrick’s Day, which is March 17, according to Catholic saints’ calendars.
The celebration of name days became popular during the Middle Ages, and many celebrated a name day instead of a birthday. Celebrating a birthday was often seen as less than Christian, and many believed it was not right to elevate oneself to a status that required honor. This position is still held by Jehovah’s Witnesses who do not celebrate birthdays, name days or holidays.
The celebration of birthdays was also linked to non-Christian traditions. Celebrating a name day instead placed the emphasis on the saint in particular and was thought to inspire the virtues of one’s name day saint. In modern Greece, it is even more common to celebrate a name day than to celebrate birthdays.
However, not all people with the same or derived names celebrate the same name day. It really depends on which liturgical calendar for the saints you use. Finland uses a name day calendar similar to that of the Eastern Orthodox Church. Catholics use a different calendar.
A name day can be celebrated just like a birthday. This is common in Poland and Russia. People can receive gifts and also have family or friends for a special dinner. Birthdays can also be celebrated in both countries.
Latvian traditions are very diverse. Name days do not correspond to the names of saints and each calendar day can be associated with up to four names. People can also submit names for inclusion in calendars. When a person’s name day comes, celebrate it as a birthday.
Offices and schools often make a nice production to celebrate name days in Latvia, and with many workers or students, a good occasion to celebrate occurs quite often. Unlike birthday traditions where people receive gifts, on a name day, people often give small gifts of candy or treats to schoolmates or office workers.
In the United States, the name day is not celebrated regularly. Some members of the Roman and Eastern Orthodox Churches still observe a name day. However, usually the birthday tradition in the United States is much more important than the name day. Those in the United States who are not Christians would have little reason to celebrate a name day, since the name of a saint would not matter much.
Also, it is now less common in the United States to give children names after saints. Many prefer more unusual names for their children than those associated with saints. However schools often seize the opportunity to give every child the chance to be the VIP for a week or a day, and celebrations of the child’s uniqueness and contribution to the school are quite common.
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