Name Day

In Greece the name day (ονομαστική εορτή or γιορτή) of a person is a very important day in the year. It is often even more important than the birthday. The name day is a tradition in several countries in Europe and America and in Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox countries in general.

It’s very common in Greece to name newborn children after one of their grandparents. So, names often continue in a family line. This results in celebrating the same name day in a family. Every day of the year is dedicated to at least one saint or martyr. But there are also some names where there may not be a Christian saint of the same name. In that case the person can decide to have no name day or to celebrate on All Saint’s Day (Sunday after Pentecost).

Usually the name days are on the same date every year, but there are a few exceptions that are associated with Easter, so they are floating. Some name days are on the same date like major Christian feasts. Christos and Christina have their name days on Christmas, Vasilius on New Year’s Day and Anastasia on Easter Sunday.

Name days are often celebrated similar to birthdays. So, many Greeks have a party at a restaurant or at home.