An important part of Greek culture is the church. So celebrating your name day or saints day is another way to show appreciation for the days gone by. It’s not so important nowadays but the tradition continues. Mine is March 25th but I’ve never celebrated it because it’s too early in the year and I’m never in Greece then.
Do you have any unique celebrations like this in your country?
Best wishes
Angela
In India, there is a naming ceremony in Hindu community to formalize the name of child. However, it is not celebrated every year.
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I know there is a special ceremony when a child is born and you go to the temple for the priest to pick out the letters that should be in the name. However I don’t know any more than that so could you tell me please.
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Yes, generally this is followed. Unless, the parents have already thought of some name in memory of another person, they visit a priest. The priest finds out the initials of the name using astrology.
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I don’t. However, my mother-in-law does. I had not really realised that name days were the same as saints days and different from birthdays until last week. It must be a European thing as she is from Bulgaria.
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You do have one because your name is Christian. Your name day is December 18th and st Samantha was an Irish catholic saint. http://www.caringcatholicconvert.com/_sites/wordpress/articles/saints/saint-samantha/
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Not so sure about that one. I would suggest that it is pre-christian. Purely as the Samoria and the Samoria sound was around before then. Plus the sound sama veda was also used before then…also even Samuel is mentioned in Hebrew writings…
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I know about Samuel as it’s my husband’s name and it just so happens he is well named as his birthday is 2 days later.
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Lol how funny! It’s a great name. I can choose Sam or Samantha. As an electrical engineer I swear I only got on site by using ‘Sam Harris’ on my CV. LMAO
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They actually did that on stargate sg1 (tv show) as they knew the only way colonel jack o neill would accept a girl is if he thought it was a man (Captain sam[antha] Carter.)I’d say a building site will forever be a man’s domain.
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Lets hope not as building sites are great work places. I have worked with all female crew on site in London. The job ran well. Women are just as creative as men so it’s right and proper that they ought be involved in community builds. They tore down my college and moved it ten miles out whilst I was training but I proved that a disabled female could qualify and then gain full time employment within the construction industry. My daughter became a painter and decorator so it will continue. My grandaughter’s favorite toy is her tool box and her toy electric drill…love it.
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That’s nice that you have experienced something different to the norm.
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It would be interesting to know what the norm is. The mean of female professions globally would probably be very difficult to quantify.
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I’ve never heard of women on building sites before and considering one of our family’s businesses is rooflights, windows and doors with another being in stone you would think that I would have.
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you don`t need to be in Greece to celebrate your day, Angela.
You can create your own tradition at home.
No, in Northern Germany we are not very religious (and if so, we are protestants) and are not used to celebrate names. We prefer original pagan rituals like Easter Fires, Midsummer Festivals etc.
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I suppose I don’t but it’s also Greek Independence Day and nobody is too enthused when I try to celebrate that or Oxi day. That’s October 28th when the Greeks said no to the Germans in world war 2.
We do have traditions in the uk like May Day or the hop festival but there not celebrated often. It depends whether you know the Morris men or not. They are the people that dance with bells on there clothes and bang sticks together. It’s English country dancing that you get taught in primary school and then you never see it again.
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Morris men?… never heard of it before but it is nice if traditions and festivals are maintained.
In fact, I didn`t know my names day. I had to google it.
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Morris men are a bizarre English tradition that most people are not aware of. Also most people are not aware of there name day outside of religious countries. I wasn’t until I came to Greece.
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There is morris dancing and sword dancing both these dances go back hundreds of years. I do not know an english person who doesnt know what morris dancing is lol we all did it at school. Morris dancers every spring in most towns. The rods and ribbons all have symbolic meanings, nods to old rituals and laws.
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I’ve seen Morris dancers many times in many places but I’m yet to visit the big festival they have every year in Hastings for spring time.
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Athena or Angela is your name…???
My name is Eftixia and celebrate on 6 of April here in Greece.. nickname is EFI !!!!
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Angela hence my name day is March 25th.
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Ηοw do you prefer to call you Athena or Angela ????
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Angela
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Ok !!!! Kisses Angela ( i like it more)!!
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Kisses
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I never knew about this custom but it sounds cool. We could all learn a little by celebrating each aspect of our life. Thank you for this reminder.
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It’s an ancient custom that turns up in game of thrones.
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I nominated you for Sunshine Blogger Award: https://betulerbasi.com/2019/05/12/sunshine-blogger-award/
You can answer the same questions as me:)
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Thank you for the nomination but I’m currently having a break as there are non blog related things that I need to do.
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Take a good break! You can answer the questions whenever you are back, if you want to do so!
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Thankyou
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mine is June 13 St Anthony of P
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Thankyou for commenting.
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You’re are welcome
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