Overview of Russian Women Name Days
The country of Russia is well known for its many traditions and cultural celebrations. The Christmas and New Year holidays are each celebrated twice in accordance with the Julian and Gregorian calendars, and Russians also honor some historical events that are uncommon to the Western world. Angel days, more often referred to as name days, are still celebrated by many regions of Europe and Latin America, including Russia.
The custom of name days in Russia dates back to the 17th century and originated with the Orthodox calendar of saints. Usually the date of a particular saint’s death was commemorated as that saint’s feast day, and people sharing the same name would celebrate themselves and the saint on that special date. Churches began promoting these saints’ feasts days, which came to be known as name days, and they quickly became more popular than celebrating birthdays.
Mentions of name day traditions are seen in classic Russian literature, such as the play Three Sisters, written by Anton Chekov. The story begins with the youngest sister Irena celebrating her name day and playing with a spinning top she receives as a gift. Also, the name day for Tatiana is referenced with a big bash in Alexander Pushkin’s novel Eugene Onegin. January 25th is not only in honor of Tatiana, but also the informal holiday known as Student’s Day, so scholars sharing this name can celebrate twice as much!
Over time, the tradition of observing name days has slightly waned, however many Russian women, more so than men, eagerly anticipate their special days. Name day calendars can be purchased to stay on top on every occasion, as some names are noticed many times throughout the year, and some dates host multiple names to be honored. For example, the date of May 31st is the name day for Alexandra, Faina, and Julia, but ladies sharing the name Alexandra are also honored on June 23rd.
These days, many Russians still honor their angel days, or saint days, by attending sacred religious services, or just getting together with friends and family. Some congratulate each other by exchanging name day greeting cards and gifts. No matter how they celebrate, these name days are just another way that Russians show their strong admiration for their history and their culture.
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