THE CELEBRATION OF NAMEDAYS IN GREECE
by Gary Van Haas
Namedays are a special and important part of Greek life because the very names
themselves go back to the very beginning of Greek culture. Coming down to us through the
ages are the marvelous names of heroes, saints and mythological figures such as the mighty
Herakles, Odyessus, Alexander, Socrates, Plato, Constantine, Helen and many many more. Of
course they go on, and on and in fact, many of them have changed little over time and are
still used today. For instance, the name 'Ioannis' is the derivative of 'John', and
'Maria' the root for Mary. All these names and more are all derived from the original
Greek.
In the beginning of the Greek Orthodox religion, these celebrations were mainly
observed as 'saint's days, but later became individual 'namedays'. All in all, namedays
now are considered much more important than a person's actual birthday. In most cases, it
is a tradition now in Greece, that when a person has a nameday, he or she gives a party
where refreshments such as coffee, cake, liquor and hors d' oeuvres are offered to friends
and acquaintances alike. In the work place, it's a little more subdued, but the nameday
person still offers something like sweets or cakes. With small children, the nameday
becomes a more of a celebration where a festive party is usually given, which continues
every year up until about the age of twelve.
During a nameday, it's always a good idea to call your friends to wish them 'chronia
polla', or 'have a good year' as a sign of appreciation, and at this point in the
conversation, your friend will usually let you know if he's having a nameday party or not
at his house. If he is and you are invited, whatever you do, don't come empty handed
because it's customary to take along a gift. Usually a box of sweets, flowers or a plant
will do. In some cases, you can even have the plant delivered if you can't get to the
florist. Another good idea is to bring along some wine, liquor, or a more personal gift if
you wish, depending on how well you know the person.
In business it's always good to remember namedays as a sign of mutual respect for
bosses and workers alike. In fact, many business people these days send telegrams to
associates and clients on their nameday as a way of keeping up good public relations. All
in all, namedays are a fun and charming aspect of Greece which are celebrated with more
flare in the small towns and villages.
