We all have own name and it is something, what identifies us. Anyway, do you know that in some countries people celebrate a Name Day? I mean like we celebrate own Birthday but just not in such grand style. A Name Day... maybe a word some of you might have no idea what it stands for, right? No worries guys, since we are here from the different cultures, various countries it is awesome we can exchange our traditions, so here I am with my blog about a Name Day.
A Name Day is mostly celebrated in many European countries but even in some countries of Latin America. If we go back to the history – a Name Day is related to the religion. In the past, as for the catolic or the ortodox religion, there existed many Saints. Just imagine Calendar. Each day of this Calendar had its own name – name of the Saint, for instance Saint Peter, Saint Francis etc. Usually, one day after death of that one Saint person people celebrated his/her Name Day.
However, this is history, nowadays our Calendar has been edited a lot and many names were added, no matter if they have something in common with the Saints or not. Weird? Hard to say, maybe as time was passing by, people were disappointed that their name wasn't in the Calendar, so they just added it there.
Today is December 13th and you can guess, what name is written in the Calendar… haha, you are right.. it is Lucie (Lucia) – my name. As for the Saint Lucia, there are many stories about her. In my country she used to visit households, appeared all of a sudden and was stometimes scary. In Sweden Saint Lucia is celebrated more than in my country. It goes together with the dark, which even here in the Czech republic is lately at 4 pm. Lucia is in fact a symbol of the light, so that is why in Sweden Saint Lucia is picturized with the candles on her head.
Now you are asking… how do they celebrate it? Well.. some people don't celebrate it at all, others meet with the closest family members, wish happy Name Day and give some little gifts – such as chocholate or the flowers.
Of course, that in European calendear we can hardly find some exotic names. When I told about the Name Day to some of my friends – usually I was asked.. ohhh when is my Name Day? :-D So, no matter if today is my Name Day or not, I just wanted to post this blog because I realized it is not common all around the world and it might be a bit interesting...
P.S. For the cat lovers I would like to point out that there exists also the calendar with the cats names and dog lovers don't need to be sad because there is also possible to buy a calendar including the dogs names...
This is me - Santa Lucia.. ehmmmm ok ok, I should color my hair because I am not blond at all :-D soo maybe next year even with the candles on my head!
The pic was taken from: https://www.pinterest.com/mariewillum/santa-lucia/
As you can see here - each and every day - there is one, two or even more names since it includes cat's names.. (no matter it is from the year 2011, I just liked this cat :-)
The Pic was taken from: http://www.kalvos.cz/psi-a-kocky-se-zvirecimi-jmeny-stolni-kalendar-2011
Comments
Wow.... so your name was taken from a saint! No wonder you look like a saint, dear Luci!
I wish every day is a Name Day for me, haha! I believe that this day is not treated as a holiday, is it? Have you heard about "monsary"? If there is anniversary, there is also monsary. Here, every month, you commemorate something or someone that is associated with a special event. Usually, a celebration goes along with it.
Lovers who celebrate "monsary" treat themselves to a romantic restaurant or to any place of their choice on this special day of the month where they first began their relationship.
Whew...the world is going extravagant with these special days, eh? I'll make it more extravagant when I celebrate my "Name Day" with firecrackers and boom crackers alike, kekeke!
Dear Lucie, what a coincidence! the other day i was reading something and I came across with this word Name Day. I thought what's the meaning could be, when i checked it i found that it is named after sacred people's names. When i saw your blog I said Oh I know the meaning of this word. That would be great if we named some days After good features like honesty, kindness, hope, calmness and whatnot. I wonder if we had such calendar! Any way interesting blog saint lucie.:D
Luci, nice blog. I was really wondering in which Christian countries people don't celebrate their name. I celebrate my name on 21 May. Btw, many wishes for your Name Day!
Can you imagine if a day or a calendar has different names in each country? How messy it's going to be. :D :D :D
New thing for me, here we do not have any name day. So, common people do celebrate this name day when their names come?
Amazing.
Thanks for sharing this fun calendar thing. I wish we had such a calendar here with all the Chinese names on it.
Btw, you made me speechless about the cats names calendar.
Ops... Congratulations!