Do you celebrate name days instead of (or in addition to) birthdays?

Started by Bernadette, June 03, 2024, 07:19:01 AM

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Bernadette

I'm curious about this. What do you do with your children in this regard?
My Lord and my God.
Ven. Matt Talbot, pray for Tom.

The Curt Jester

Feast days over birthdays, although most of ours are very close, so they can be celebrated together.
The royal feast was done; the King
Sought some new sport to banish care,
And to his jester cried: "Sir Fool,
Kneel now, and make for us a prayer!"

The jester doffed his cap and bells,
And stood the mocking court before;
They could not see the bitter smile
Behind the painted grin he wore.

He bowed his head, and bent his knee
Upon the Monarch's silken stool;
His pleading voice arose: "O Lord,
Be merciful to me, a fool!"

Bonaventure


LausTibiChriste

Both. Name days are very popular in this part of the world. Never knew it was a thing growing up in Canada.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son Of God, Have Mercy On Me A Sinner

Bernadette

Quote from: LausTibiChriste on June 03, 2024, 11:53:29 AMBoth. Name days are very popular in this part of the world. Never knew it was a thing growing up in Canada.
Yes, I know. There's a chapter in War and Peace about two of the characters celebrating their name day.
My Lord and my God.
Ven. Matt Talbot, pray for Tom.

Melkor

Quote from: Bonaventure on June 03, 2024, 10:07:09 AMBoth.

Same, growing up it was always birthday presents and maybe a special cake or something for a feast day of a patron Saint.
All that is gold does not glitter, not all those who wander are lost.

"Am I not here, I who am your mother?" Mary to Juan Diego

"Let a man walk ten miles steadily on a hot summer's day along a dusty English road, and he will soon discover why beer was invented." G.K. Chesterton

"Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice: for they shall have their fill." Jesus Christ

Acolyte

I'm 66 yo and never heard of name days. Never once heard the term (until today).

I looked it up. Now I know.
"From the moment we awake in the morning, let us pray continually in the words of holy David: Turn away my eyes, that they may not behold vanity"
St Alphonsus

"I will set my face against you, and you shall fall down before your enemies, and shall be made subject to them that hate you, you shall flee when no man pursueth you"
Leviticus 26:17

"Behold, O God our protector : and look upon the face of Thy Christ" (Ps. 79:20) Here is devotion to the face of Jesus Christ as prophesized by David."
Fr. Lawrence Daniel Carney III

drummerboy

My in-laws do both.  I never even heard of it till I met my wife.  I've read the name day is a big deal for the Byzantine Rites and takes precedence over birthdays
"I like grumpy old cusses.  Hope to live long enough to be one" - John Wayne

Antonius

I went on Pilgrimage, to Fatima a number of years ago. The trip coincided with the Feast of the saint I was named after. It was then I became aware of the Saint nameday. So, since that trip, I have tried to follow the tradition of this.
Nemo me inpune lacessit.

Kaesekopf

We do both with the family.  In my childhood, we only did birthdays (raised NO with well-meaning parents).  I've been fostering a devotion to the patronal names for some time. 

I also try to commemorate sacraments with Mass/Communion and a little celebration (typically custard - I'm not that exciting). 

We don't really throw any parties for the name days (we do so for the birthdays, because extended family).  Name days are commemorated as above, with Mass/Communion, followed by some special treat.  As the kids get older, they'll be able to pick. 
Wie dein Sonntag, so dein Sterbetag.

I am not altogether on anybody's side, because nobody is altogether on my side.  ~Treebeard, LOTR

Jesus son of David, have mercy on me.

Antonius

Attending Mass, will be what I will be looking at doing the next time my name day comes around.
Nemo me inpune lacessit.

Bernadette

I actually forgot mine this year, and my Confirmation Saint's day, too. St. Teresa's is next month, which I always observe.
My Lord and my God.
Ven. Matt Talbot, pray for Tom.

Melkite

If Jovan were here, he could tell you about Slava - the Serbian tradition of a family's patron saint.  So not only do individuals celebrate their own name day, but your family has a patron that you all celebrate on their day.

KreKre

Quote from: Melkite on September 20, 2024, 07:19:30 PMIf Jovan were here, he could tell you about Slava - the Serbian tradition of a family's patron saint.  So not only do individuals celebrate their own name day, but your family has a patron that you all celebrate on their day.
It is a nice custom, but unfortunately, they are heretics, they do not belong to the Catholic Church.
Christus vincit! Christus regnat! Christus imperat!

Melkite

Quote from: KreKre on September 24, 2024, 08:54:49 AM
Quote from: Melkite on September 20, 2024, 07:19:30 PMIf Jovan were here, he could tell you about Slava - the Serbian tradition of a family's patron saint.  So not only do individuals celebrate their own name day, but your family has a patron that you all celebrate on their day.
It is a nice custom, but unfortunately, they are heretics, they do not belong to the Catholic Church.

There's no reason the custom can't be adopted by Catholics.