What is the significance of name day in Greece?
Name days are the days where a saint, martyr, or otherwise holy person is commemorated by the Greek Orthodox Church. Otherwise known abroad as “feast days”, these anniversaries usually are of the saint’s or martyr’s death due to refusing to denounce their faith at the hands of prosecutors of Christendom in the past.
What is happy name day in Greek?
Greek translation: χρόνια πολλά για τη γιορτή σου
What is name day in Orthodox Church?
According to Greek Orthodox tradition, nearly every day of the year is dedicated to some Christian saint or martyr. When someone in Greece is named after one of these saints, that saint’s celebration day becomes their “name day” and is celebrated much like their actual birthday.
How do you congratulate name day?
“Warm wishes on Name Day to you. Whether you love your name or hate it, today is the day to change it for a day.” “You are truly blessed with a beautiful name which you would never want to have changed. Happy Name Day.”
Which countries celebrate name day?
The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines name days as “the church feast day of the saint after whom one is named.” Many cultures and countries around the world put precedence on celebrating these specific name days. Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Italy and Russia are just a handful of countries that honor this celebration.
What do Greek people say when they smash plates?
opa!
Breaking plates is often accompanied with ‘opa! ‘ which means oops, and this is done with great cheer and joy.
Who celebrates name Day?
The celebration of name days has been a tradition in Catholic and Eastern Orthodox countries since the Middle Ages, and has also continued in some measure in countries, such as the Scandinavian countries, whose Protestant established church retains certain Catholic traditions.
How is name Day determined?
If you are named after a saint or martyr, the day of the saint’s celebration and feast becomes your name day. If you are unsure what your name day is, you can use databases such as Happy Name Day or the American Name Day Calendar. Some of these dates will vary depending on which ethnicity you relate to the most.