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It's hard to imagine, but in the past, a birthday was by no means the most important holiday for a person. Much more important were name day - the day on which the church celebrated the memory of the saint of the same name. This holiday has a long history: the first mentions of it date back to the 17th century. According to tradition, a child was baptized on the eighth day and a name was chosen for him according to the church calendar. If the saint's name day was not celebrated on this day or the name was dissonant, the saint's name was chosen for the baby on one of the following days. The choice of a name was approached very carefully, because it was believed that it controls fate.
In ancient times, on the eve of the name day, pies, loaves and beer were baked, and on the holiday day, people went to a prayer service, lit candles and arranged a dinner for relatives and friends. In the 20s and 30s of the 20th century, the celebration of name days was banned and persecuted. However, this did not eradicate the ancient tradition: despite the fact that names are mainly chosen based on one's own tastes, name days are still popular.
A gift for a name day
One of the most famous holidays is Tatyana's Day, which is celebrated on January 25. It was named in honor of Saint Tatyana, a Christian martyr. These name days are also known because they coincide with Student's Day. It was on this day that the Russian Empress Elizabeth I signed a decree on the opening of Moscow University. Saint Tatiana was declared the patroness of students.
December 13 is the day of memory of Andrew the First-Called. He was the first of the apostles to follow Christ, having learned about him. This day is the beginning of the winter holiday cycle.
Another important holiday in December is the name day of Nicholas the Wonderworker, one of the most revered Christian saints, which is celebrated on December 19. Saint Nicholas received his nickname because of the numerous miracles that occurred thanks to his prayers. The winter period is rich in name days: during this period, congratulations are received by Katerina (7.12), Varvara (17.12), Anna (22.12) and Vasily (14.01).
Alexey's name day, which falls on March 30, symbolizes the end of the cold and the long-awaited arrival of spring. This day was called "Warm Alexey". According to legend, Alexey was born into a wealthy family, but in his youth he left his parents and bride, dedicating himself to serving God. He lived the life of a hermit, praying and eating only bread and water, and the relics of the saint after his death brought many healings. In ancient times, people tried to predict the future harvest based on the weather on this day.
American writer Dale Carnegie repeatedly emphasized that a person's name is the sweetest and most important sound in any language. Don't miss the opportunity to do something nice for someone and congratulate them on their birthday.
