Celebration: Celebrating Name Days

Name days celebrations vary widely from nation to nation. Below, however, are descriptions of some of the most popular ways of observing them:

Bulgaria: Name days in Bulgaria are as important and as widely celebrated as birthdays. Name days are associated almost always with Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox celebrations, but some have started following foreign traditions, such as the name Valentina being celebrated on the Roman Catholic St. Valentine's Day. There are also some names that can be celebrated on more than one day. By an ancient Bulgarian tradition, everybody is welcome on name days; there is no need to invite guests. However, despite the importance of name days, presents are not given. Well-wishes usually include "May you hear your name from grandchildren and great-grandchildren" and "May you hear your name only in good things."

Czech Republic: In the Czech Republic, each day of the year corresponds to at least one personal name. People celebrate their svátek (or, more formally, jmeniny) on the date corresponding to their own given name. Name days are commonly of less importance than birthdays to Czech people. However, name day celebrations can be, and often are, held together with friends or co-workers of the same name, and in this way it can grow in size and importance. Although past law, which required parents to pick their childrens' names from the Roman Catholic calendar of saints, most parents do still select names from the name day calendar.

England: As in other nations with very large immigrant populations, name days are much less important than birthdays in England. The only major name day in England is St. George's Day, which is April 23. However, as more immigrants move to England from Eastern European countries in particular, name days are beginning to become more popular, especially in the country's growing Polish community.

Finland: Name days are hugely important in Finnish culture. Finns celebrate their nimipäivä according to the official name days calendar published by the University of Helsinki Almanac Office. The Almanac Office reviews the lists every year, adding new names as they gain popularity and striking others that have faded into disuse. Every day – except New Year's Day, Christmas Day, and February 29 – is a name day. For each day, there are names in both Finnish and Swedish, reflecting the large Swedish community in the country; the names are frequently, but not always, cognates. Approximately 45% of name days celebrate women, 49% are name days for men, and the remaining are either for unisex names (like Rauni on July 15) or paired names (like Oliver and Olivia on May 29). Many traditional beliefs are attached to various name days, especially involving the weather and the appropriate times to perform seasonal agricultural tasks such as planting some particular crop. For example, there is a saying that "Jaakko (James) casts a cold rock into the water," meaning that on Jaakko's day, July 25, the waters start getting colder, which is not far from true on average. The seven days from July 18 to 24th, being all women's name days, are known as the women's week. It is popularly believed to be an especially rainy week, and this is to some extent supported by statistics, as late July and early August are the rainiest time of the year in Finland.

Greece: In Greece, name days (η γιορτή) are celebrated in a similar way to birthdays. If someone is named after a saint, then there is a big celebration on his or her name day. Gifts are given, festive meals and desserts are prepared, and special preparations are made for an open house in most parts of Greece. In many communities, particularly in the north, name days are focused more on the saint, rather than just the individual. In Macedonia, people commonly wait for people to come to their home for mezedes and serve their guests. It is typical to give children (up to about 14) money as a small gift. On name days, the person being celebrated arranges parties and serves the guests, instead of the guests fussing over the honorary person. Usually, name days are on the same date, every year. These are the "non-floating" name days. There are some floating name days, based on the Orthodox holiday calendar, that are on a different date every year.

Hungary: Névnap in Hungary are very popular, often as much as a person's actual birthday. Women are typically given flowers by acquaintances, including in the workplace, and the price of flowers often rises around the dates of popular names because of demand. A bottle of alcohol is a common gift for men on their name day. Name days are more often celebrated than birthdays in workplaces, presumably because it is simpler to know the date since most calendars contain a list of name days. Children frequently bring sweets to school to celebrate their name days. Some highly popular names have several name days; in that case, the person chooses on which day he or she wishes to celebrate.

Latvia: Vārdadienas are settled on certain dates, with every day (except for February 29) having at least one name celebration. Latvian calendars usually list up to four names each day, or around 1,000 names a year. An extended calendar with around 5,000 names was recently published, and there are also a few extended calendars found on the Internet listing names even on February 29. February 29 is a popular date to celebrate name days of people who do not have a name day; another such date is May 22. The Latvian name days calendar is updated at one- or two-year intervals; anyone can suggest a name for the calendar, usually by sending an application to the State Language Centre. Celebrations are quite like birthday celebrations. It is popular to celebrate name days in one's workplace. Typically, the person observing their name day prepares snacks for well-wishers, and colleagues give them flowers, sweets, and small presents in return. It is normal to attend a name day celebration without an invitation. At school, students are expected to arrive with candy for classmates and teachers. Celebrating name days at home is not as popular as celebrating a birthday, although it may vary depending on the period of time between one's birthday and name day; usually, name day celebrants will eat cake with household members and receive presents.

Poland: In Poland, imieniny are widely celebrated, and most calendars contain the names celebrated each day. Name day celebrations traditionally involve a gathering of friends and family at the celebrant's home at the dinner table, followed by drinking and socializing, similarly to birthday celebrations. Child celebrants, and often adults as well, receive presents, just like on their birthday. The song "Sto lat" is sometimes sung.

Russia: именины (imeniny) are celebrated apart from birthdays. Some calendars contain name days, but one must buy a special name day calendar. Celebrations range from cards and flowers to full-blown celebrations similar to birthday parties. Such a celebration begins with attendance at the divine services marking that day, usually with a festive party thereafter. Before the October Revolution, the name day was considered as important as, or more important than, the celebration of the birthday; in modern times, however, few people know the traditions associated with it. One of the most popular references of a Russian name day is the entire first act of Anton Chekhov's Three Sisters, where Irina is celebrating her name day.

Slovakia: Slovak culture has accorded similar importance to meniny as to birthdays. The list of names assigned to a date is normally published in the calendar; however, there are only one or two names listed on the calendar, even if more names are assigned to a date. The names in bold on the national name list are the ones observed with a name date; the others are not celebrated, but may be officially given to a child. Children in Slovakia almost always have names from this list, except for names in minority languages (such as Hungarian names) or foreign names that the parents can prove exist through a formal letter from their nation's embassy.

Spain: Until recently, onomásticas were widely celebrated and had more importance than birthday celebrations. Currently, name days are still remembered in more traditional families, but are not generally celebrated with festive parties and presents as they were in the past. To celebrate name days, practicing Catholics typically attend mass and have some intimate family celebration.

Sweden: From the 18th century onwards, names used by the royal family were introduced to the Swedish list of name days, followed by other common names. In 1901, a comprehensive modernization was made to make the list up to date with current names. The monopoly on almanacs, held by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, expired in 1972, and so did the official name day list. Competing name day lists began to emerge, but the official list was still in general use until 1986, when consensus of a new list with three names on each day was reached. This list was revised in 1993 and reduced to two names on each day. However, widespread dissatisfaction with the list prompted the Swedish Academy to compile a new two-name list that was finally accepted and brought into use in 2001. Although it does not have the official status of the 1901 or older lists, it is now universally used in Sweden. This list will be updated every 15 years.

United States: The particular mix of cultures in the United States means that a wide variety of name days are celebrated, usually in very different ways. Many people rely on the name day calendar of their ancestor's country of origin, while others rely on more modernized, multi-ethnic calendars, most of which are completely secular in origin. These calendars are often based around the names of famous figures from American history, such as former presidents or intellectual leaders.