Is a Name Day in Game of Thrones a Real Tradition? by Ronesa Aveela
A name day (Имен ден) is not a custom only in the society of the Seven Kingdoms in Game of Thrones. It’s also an annual Bulgarian celebration of a person’s name and is a way to determine the person’s age. This celebration may elicit a “Really?” from people when you describe it to them. It’s a festivity like a birthday, but is more popular than a birthday. Each day of the year has several related names assigned to it—quite often associated with the holidays of the saints. When babies are born, they may be named for the saint of the day, but not always. Their name day is quite often is on a different day than their birthday. Long ago, a person’s name was like a magic word, an amulet, or a spell. It held power. Even today, Bulgarians consider a person’s name important. One proverb says, “The name makes the man,” while another states, “A man with no name is no man.” On a person’s name day, it’s customary to greet them with “Long live you and your name.”
and bless the child. Over time, people began to associate the celebration of the saint’s feast day more with the name than with the saint. Where a name day differs from a birthday is in the giving of gifts. Like a birthday, people may receive presents from friends and family. Quite often, though, instead of receiving gifts, the person who is celebrating is the one who’s providing food and beverages to those who visit. And since everyone knows when it’s another person’s name day, no special invitations are needed. Anyone can drop by to wish the person a blessing and happiness on his name day. At one time, if people didn’t want visitors on their name day, they placed ads in the paper that they would not be receiving guests. Those who do celebrate will prepare a meal that is associated with the saint. For example, fish is a staple on St. Nicholas’ Day, while lamb will be served on St. Georges’s Day, and chicken on St. Peter’s Day.
One famous saint most people have heard of is St. Name days may have come Nicholas (Nikolas). The name about because people in day in his honor, Nikulden ancient times didn’t know the (Никулден, St. Nicholas’ exact date of their birth. They Day), is celebrated on would mention of the day of their birth December 6. What many people know as “born after St. Demetrius’ Day,” “at him for is his reputation for giving gifts. threshing time,” “before grape-picking,” The most famous story about this was or “on Holy Virgin’s Day.” People also that he secretly threw three purses of gold often named their children after the coins through the window of the house saints, believing the saint would protect of a poor man who had three unmarried - 59 -
