Name days - which countries celebrate?

[nicholsong]

I had never heard of people celebrating their First name days, and people giving them presents, until I came to Poland.

The day is usually associated with the Saint of the same name, although some names in Poland have several days allocated to them and then the celebration is the first day after the person's birthday.

In parts of Poland the Name Day is more important than the Birthday.

The purpose of this thread is to find out in which countries Name Days are celebrated and to what extent.

Today is Basia's (Barbara) name day but I lose out in Poland as there is no name day for Geoffrey - probably because none of us are Saints.

 

[Riverbankannie]

I assume it is associated with Catholic countries?

 

[funsterSwede]

Sweden does, not that it's celebrated much but better remember the name day of significant other or it might get a bit frosty for a day or two of you know what I mean.. Swedes have been Protestants since the 16th century, state and church ”divorced” in the year 2000 I believe - so not the most religious country, least not amongst the natives.

 

[SmithsInFrance]

I assume it is associated with Catholic countries?

I think so - traditionally it has always been quite a thing here in France. Until fairly recently there were legal controls over what you could name your baby and so invariably saints' names were chosen, giving the child a birthday and a saint's day to celebrate

Wikipaedia: "Since 1993 the choice has been free in France unless it is decided that the name is contrary to the interests of the child. Before that time the choice of first names was dictated by French laws that decreed which names were acceptable. Napoleon Bonaparte created the law."

 

[Ridgeway]

There is a Saint Godfrey (Geoffrey) so in France you could manage it

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[125BEER]

Think Greece do.

Yamas

 

[Ian Bosman]

I had never heard of people celebrating their First name days, and people giving them presents, until I came to Poland.

The day is usually associated with the Saint of the same name, although some names in Poland have several days allocated to them and then the celebration is the first day after the person's birthday.

In parts of Poland the Name Day is more important than the Birthday.

The purpose of this thread is to find out in which countries Name Days are celebrated and to what extent.

Today is Basia's (Barbara) name day but I lose out in Poland as there is no name day for Geoffrey - probably because none of us are Saints.

Ghana has name days, ie a man born on a Saturday is called, traditionally, Kwame which also applies to me as an ex resident of Ghana although white British ethnically. My wife is Diana Ekua, the latter for a female born on a Wednesday. Mom Ghanaians can tell you there name day but as to their birth date that can be hit or miss.

 

[gus-lopez]

Spain does it. celebrated same as a birthday

 

[SmithsInFrance]

Ghana has name days, ie a man born on a Saturday is called, traditionally, Kwame which also applies to me as an ex resident of Ghana although white British ethnically. My wife is Diana Ekua, the latter for a female born on a Wednesday. Mom Ghanaians can tell you there name day but as to their birth date that can be hit or miss.

Many years ago my son worked briefly as a hospital Porter and he was teamed with a chap called Saturday. At the time I thought it was such an unusual name, now I understand how he got it

 

[davidbaldam]

Being a Welsh man I always celebrate my Name Day.

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