What Is Name Day In Greece: Name days are often marked as religious holidays in many Christian European countries. This is the “eortologio,” or calendar of saints. In the Greek Orthodox Church, each day of the liturgical year is linked to a different saint. Interestingly, Christian calendars have different names, and not all churches agree with them. In English, a day to honor a saint is called a “feast day.” Many saint days are still celebrated on the day they died and were taken to heaven. This tradition comes from the early church martyrs who loved and served Christ no matter what, even when they were about to die.
Many people in Greece and other Eastern European countries are Orthodox Christians, which has a big effect on how they see themselves as a country. A little less than 92% of people in Moldova, 89% of people in Georgia, 89% of people in Armenia, and 86% of people in Romania are Greek Orthodox (source).
There are a lot of Greek Orthodox Christians, so many children are baptized into the church and given the name of a saint. On their name days, these children are honored. Because of this, if you go to Greece or know Greeks, you will probably see and do this popular practice.
How do people celebrate name days in Greece?
On name days, people respect the saint whose name they carry, both in a religious and traditional sense. If someone is religious, their name is an important part of who they are, so they can only be named with a Christian name. People who have recently become Christians may need to change their names in order to embrace their new views.
People who are named after a saint are blessed and can be prayed for in a church. In the past, celebrating one’s name day meant going to church services, starting with vespers the night before the day itself.
There must also be a faith link between the person and the saint whose name they wear in their home. People in Greece often have a different area called an “iconostasis” in their homes, where they put up holy images. An oil-burning light that stays lit all the time adds to the holy feeling. On top of that, the saint’s holy picture is usually shown.
Not only did people go to church, but they also kept “an open home,” meaning that anyone could stop by and wish them well. As is customary at Greek parties, wine and sweets were served to the guests. That’s why a Greek friend will usually give you a gift on their birthday.
In the past few years, getting together at home with close family and friends has become more common. But if you want to see someone, you should call them first. A lot of people also send and receive congratulations through text messages and calls.
Even though the task may seem simple, a lot of people in Greece celebrate famous names days, so you need to get in touch with every George you know!
When is Your Greek Name Day?
In Greece, name days are very important and are often marked with more joy than birthdays, especially if the person has a common name. Think about August 15, which is known as the Memorial to the Dormition of the Virgin Mary. People whose names are related to Christ’s mother usually mark the event with a lot of pomp and circumstance.
Along with being a public holiday that marks the beginning of summer, it has been a tradition for a long time to enjoy everyone’s name day. But with the way things are now, name-day traditions have become more important. For instance, people with the names Georgia and Giorgos/George (who make up about 9% of Greek men) decided to have small celebrations on April 23.
Zoom talks are taking the place of getting together in person with family and friends. Still, once the coronavirus threat is over, Greek names will definitely be greeted with real kisses on the cheek and glasses clinking.
What is name day in Greece and How to Celebrate it?
Name Day is a practice that comes from ancient Greece that Orthodox Christians celebrate. A lot of Greeks are baptized into the Greek church when they are young. They are given the names of saints and happily celebrate their feast days. This holiday has become an important part of everyday life for many Greeks, so you will probably see it if you have Greek friends or want to go to Greece.
The “eortologio,” or saints calendar, is used by the Greek Orthodox church to choose a saint for each day of the holy year. Interestingly, Christian calendars have different names, and not all churches agree with them. In English, to honor a saint by giving them a day is called a “feast day.” Many saint days are still celebrated on the anniversary of the day they died and went to heaven. The early saints of the church were often martyrs who loved and served Christ until the end.
People often name their children after these revered heroes or saints, and the person so named enjoys celebrating the day of the saint as their name day, adding to the long history of this tradition.
Name Days & Name Day Customs In Greece
People all over Europe celebrate name days. They come from the Christian church’s practice of choosing certain days to be a saint’s “feast day.” In Greece, name days are much more important than birthdays, especially as people get older.
Greek traditions about holidays
Greek name days have traditionally been celebrated with an “open house,” where close family and friends come over to wish the person well, give and receive small gifts, and enjoy the traditional “trauma,” which is a spread of food, sweets, coffee, and drinks. But the traditional “open house” style has changed, and naming day parties that are only open to people who are invited are becoming more common.
On your name day, you should call someone to wish them well and praise them. Also, wishing someone on social media is becoming more common. People say the popular prayer “Many Years” (Chronia Polla) to a friend on their name day to wish them health and happiness.
How People in Greece Give Names
Because Greek naming customs are based on strong traditions, some names become famous within a generation. In every family, the oldest granddaughter gets the name of her grandmother, while the oldest boy usually gets the name of his grandfather. All three cousins will have the same name if the same family has three kids and each has a boy grandchild. Also, Saint’s Name Day is for people with the same first name.
Don’t miss Greek Name Days.
XpatAthens has a handy name day button at the bottom of its website that is updated every day with the names that are celebrated. This way, you’ll always attend a Greek name day party.
Greek Name Days and Holidays in Greece
In Greek Orthodox custom, every day is a day to remember a Christian saint or martyr. January 7 is Saint John the Baptist’s Day for all Greeks with the names Yannis (or Ioannis for men) or Yanna (or Ioanna for women).
People in Greece always get more excited about Name Day, a national holiday, than about someone’s birthday. People usually call a friend on their birthday to wish them well and say something like “Hronia Polla,” which means “Many Years” and means wealth and health. Because you care, you should ask your friends if they have people over.
Parties for name days happen at different times than birthday parties at home. You need to see your friends and wish them a happy name day. It’s polite to give a gift, and some good options are flowers, drinks, books, CDs, or something more personal.
On the other hand, your friend might want to celebrate their name day by asking you to a pub or tavern. In this case, a gift is still welcome and will make the event more enjoyable.
What do Greeks do on name day?
In Greece, name days (onomastiki eorti) are celebrated in addition to birthdays. A name day is the feast day of the saint that a person is named after. Name days are widely celebrated throughout Greece, and it is a time for family and friends to gather together, exchange wishes, and enjoy traditional food and drink.
Name days, or onomastics erotic, are celebrated in Greece along with birthdays to honor the feast day of the saint who gave someone their name.
Name days are very popular in Greece. They give family and friends a chance to get together, share good wishes, and enjoy local food and drinks.
In Greece, people celebrate name days in a number of different ways:
Greeting the celebrant: Family and friends often call or visit the person on the morning of the name day to wish them a happy occasion. As a sign of peace for the coming year, flowers or other gifts are often given.
Having a party: To honor the day of the name, it is common to have a small get-together or party. Guests enjoy traditional treats and sweets like baklava, moussaka, pastitsio, and more, whether they are at the celebrant’s home or a nearby taverna.
Homes are decorated with balloons and flowers to mark the important event. In some places, it is also common to fly a flag outside the house with a picture of the saint on it.
Though it’s not required, it’s polite to show your thanks to someone with a small gift like a flower bouquet, a bottle of wine, or a box of chocolates.
Going to church: On their name day, many Greeks go to church, light candles, and pray to the saint to honor the event.
What is the purpose of a name day?
In Christianity, a name day is a tradition in many countries of Europe and the Americas, among other parts of Christendom. It consists of celebrating a day of the year that is associated with one’s baptismal name, which is normatively that of a biblical character or other saint.
In some countries, Name Day celebrations are linked to certain practices and customs. In Greece, people often go to churches that honor saints by name and light candles to show their respect. In Poland, people go to churches to pray, burn lights, and wear badges with pictures of saints that represent them.
Finding out when your name day is a great way to honor your name and how important it is to you. Many services can help you find your name day, and a name day calendar is very useful.
A lot of online name day calendars, like Namedaycalendar.com and mynameday.com, have huge lists of names and the days they are celebrated from all over the world. Furthermore, you can use name-day tools, like “Name-day & birthday calendar,” to quickly get to your name-day information.
Finding out your name day can be fun and important because it lets you respect what your name means.
What do you get someone for their name day in Greek?
What to give family and friends on their Name Day? The most popular gifts to send to loved ones in Greece are flowers and cakes.
Do you want to make a VIP feel like you are careful and professional? On their name day, sending a gift to clients, business partners, and workers is a great way to show your appreciation. You might be surprised at how many great business gifts are available in Greece. Beautiful gift baskets with alcohol are one of the best choices. A classy way to make someone happy on Name Day is to send them a bottle of their favorite drinking drink.
If your office doesn’t accept alcohol delivery, you could send Greece a beautiful bouquet instead. A well-chosen collection can add color to their desk, and a sincere comment will stick with them. If you want to add a modern touch, try an edible design or some tasty treats along with the gift.
How are name days usually celebrated?
Traditionally, name days are celebrated as an ‘open house’ where close friends and relatives drop by to give their wishes, offer a small gift, and receive the traditional ‘kerasma’ (food, sweets, coffee, and drinks). In recent years the ‘open house’ tradition has changed and name days are celebrated by invitation.
Name Day is an important custom that shows how important a person’s name is in many cultural settings. What each country does to remember it is different because it has a long past. No matter if you celebrate Name Day or not, knowing what it means might help you appreciate names more. We can show our love and thanks to our loved ones through this ritual, and we can also remember and honor the person whose name was given.
As part of an ongoing party, Name Tag Professionals is happy to take names. We have hundreds of different name tag designs for you to choose from so you can show off your unique style and make every day a special one! We offer different kinds of name tags, such as metal, magnetic, and reusable stickers. We now have more products, such as engraved gifts, nameplates, and other personalized things.
Do you get gifts for name day?
This feast day people celebrate the name of a saint and make gifts to those who have the same name. In some countries and regions, the name day is even more important than their birthday. Would you like to surprise your loved ones with a gift to their name day? Your name day gift should be personal and individual.
Even though they might seem like an obvious choice, gift baskets are a great way to send your warmest Name Day thoughts when you’re in a hurry. These gift boxes are easy to find in gift shops and can be customized to fit the tastes of the person receiving them. If it’s for a partner, you could fill it with makeup or other beauty products. If it’s for a brother or lover, send them tasty treats like chocolate cookies, which is a surefire way to win a man over. For a more personal touch, think about having the gift basket brought to the person being honored at work.
Names of Flowers for Days:
Flowers are a great choice for Name Day gifts. You can get them shipped or buy them at any flower shop. Pick flowers that are very bright and colorful to make a strong visual effect. Make sure the flowers you pick go with the other gifts and the event. A passionate bunch of red roses or a bouquet of happy tulips in a range of colors is perfect. The flower delivery service in Greece from CosmeaGardens has a lot of different kinds of nice flowers.
Name Day cakes:
There can’t be a Name Day party without cake. If you want to surprise your guests, bring a tasty cake, like a rich chocolate or a creamy treat. You can either make a ticket ahead of time at a nearby bakery or show off your cooking skills by decorating and baking a delicious cake. When beautiful flowers are added to the cake, it becomes a gift that looks great.
Salons for beauty:
Treat the woman you care about by taking her to the spa for a day. Please give her a relaxed spa session as a thank-you for all her hard work and kindness. Plan a nice spa treatment for yourself at home or go to a nearby beauty salon. You should plan the spa visit a day ahead of time since she might be busy celebrating that day.
A bottle of champagne:
Send a bottle of champagne to the big Name Day party to make it even more special. Sparkling champagne makes the party mood even better. A bottle of champagne is a great gift for a celebration and is great for getting together with family and friends.
Diamonds and gems
Jewelry is a gift that will always be appreciated, especially for women. A simple ring, bracelet, or collar can always surprise someone. Pick out something pretty, like a gold or silver chain, and then have the celebrant’s name engraved on it to make it one-of-a-kind. This kind of gift will help people remember the event for a long time.
Giving a gift, especially one that has nothing to do with an event, is seen as a nice thing to do in Greece, where people like to celebrate everything. People in Greece like surprises, so giving them a gift in the middle of the week will make them happy.
But keep in mind the cultural setting, especially during busy times of the year when many people are on vacation or visiting family and stores may be closed. In Greece, people like to celebrate Christmas, New Year’s Day, Valentine’s Day, and Mother’s Day.
No matter the reason, send Greece a gift that they will remember. Make sure that the gift you give has everything you need. Being kind in this way will definitely be a huge success if you do it!
