How strange are swedish "celebrations"?

Washburne

Washburne

Protector of the key.
Joined
May 9, 2008
Messages
6,944
Location
Floating around
Black Thorn
Ok, so celebrations isn´t the best word, but at this very moment I can´t come up with anything better. I won´t get started with midsommar and kräftskiva or anything like that. Then we could be here forever. But I congratulated Bangelxx a few days ago since it was "her" day. I´m pretty sure she thought I was crazy. She had absolutely no idea what I was talking about. Not even then I tried to explain. So I´ll give it a try here to see if anyone at least have heard of it. Or if it really just is us crazy people up here that do this.

So here´s the thing. Every single day of the year (ok, almost) have at least a name or two attached to it. So depending then your name is, that day is your "namnsdag" which just translates to "name day". So then your day comes people congratulates you. It´s not like we´re throwing big parties or anything, nowdays you can be happy if you get anything at all. It was however a big deal to my grandpartents, always sending a card and giving some money. And we could actually get some cake, even if that wasn´t always the case.

So my queation is if you at least have names "attached" to the days, or even "celebrate" it in any way what so ever?

I know I´m pretty awful at explaining at the moment. But I´ve waited long enough. I need to at least try to find out how it works around the globe.
 
aaaw i didn't think you were crazy! I love that you guys have days for names!!!
 
Except for Valentine, Jesus and Guy Fawkes I can't think of any day celebrations linked with/to names. So yes, Swedes are horribly weird. There's a reason a root vegetable is named after them 😛
 
in finland, we have those "namedays", it is quite fun tradition. But i never remember when my nameday is 🙁🙁🙁🙁

So the Swedes aren't the only stranges on globe.
 
I work for IKEA, we 'celebrate' every other Swedish holiday, why can't we have name day too? And be presented with a paid day off work!! :lmao:
 
We have namedays in German, only I'm pretty sure nobody really cares and knows when their nameday is. In fact, you Swedish people don't happen to know which day the name day for 'Kristine' is, do you?
 
Washburne
Washburne
In Sweden it actually was this thursday (24/7). Sorry, I forgot you. :(
We don't have anything like that in Australia, but I have a Russian friend who spoke a couple of times of 'name days'.

So it seems to be mostly a european thing ... 'cause I think the French have Saints associated with just about every day of the year - which is basically the same as a name day.

However, I know it's not celebrated in France, it's more a bit of trivial knowledge like .. "Hey, today's my name day, cool!" type thing, rather than a reason to congratulate anyone. 😀

I think it's because a lot of places you used to have to be named after the Saint of the day you were born. So your name day was your birthday, really.

</2 cents>
 
Hmm that sounds like one of the more normal type celebrations that you have. Haha after some of the stories from VH... well I dont think I will be visiting Sweden anytime soon 😛 Wasn't there one where you dance like frogs and get drunk or something? We have alot of get drunk holidays here, pretty much any long weekend is an excuse. But no name days as far as I know... I could start one though, choose a day and celebrate my name, that could be fun! 😀 😉
 
Christians (especially Orthodox Christians, like Russians) around here still celebrate their Saint's days, but I don't think it has so much to do with the name of the person, they get stuck with that saint at birth and have to celebrate it. And they do actually use it to get out of work.
 
Social Suicide said:
We have namedays in German, only I'm pretty sure nobody really cares and knows when their nameday is. In fact, you Swedish people don't happen to know which day the name day for 'Kristine' is, do you?
Click to expand...
Perhaps that depends on the degree of religiosity of the family? In my family, we always got little presents from parents, grandparents and uncles/aunts for name day, it was pretty much a "minor birthday" - so of course I know when my name day is. Hmm... come to think of it, it may also be a tradition that's dying out (Tine, you sometimes make me feel so old!).
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom