Many people confuse a name day with a birthday, but a birthday can be only once a year, while a name day can be celebrated several times a year. The concept of a name day is associated with the Orthodox calendar - saints, in which each of the 365 days is associated with the name of a saint or with some festive religious event. The overwhelming number of names popular in Russia can be found in the calendar, and more than once.
Name day tradition
Earlier, before the struggle with religion began in Russia at the beginning of the last century, according to the Orthodox tradition, a newborn had to be baptized a few weeks after birth. Baptism is not only a sign of communion with the sacraments of Orthodoxy, but also the acquisition of a name by which a person could be identified in the face of the Almighty. As a rule, during baptism, the name of the saint who patronized the day on which the child was born was used. If the name seemed inappropriate, it was possible to choose the names of the saints who patronized the days closest to the date of birth. Typically, name searches were limited to three days before and three days after the date of birth. Therefore, most often name days and birthdays coincided, hence the confusion when today a birthday is called name day.
Saints are still used today when choosing a name; they can be bought in church shops.
Wise Sophia
Sonia, Sofa, Sonechka - these are all variants of the same full name - Sophia. The name is Greek and means "wisdom", "wise". A girl with that name was just lucky - she can celebrate her name day as many as eight times a year: February 28, April 1, May 15, June 4, June 17, September 30, October 1, December 29 and 31.
The most famous of these dates is September 30th. On this day, the name day, together with Sophia, celebrate all Faith, Hope and Love. According to church tradition, these Christian martyrs were executed on this day.
It is believed that the girl who bears this name, despite the gentleness and tenderness that she demonstrates in relationships with people close to her, has a strong and strong-willed character. She has the ability to insist on her own, not using rough pressure, but acting softly and persistently, convincing her that she is right. Sophia is a very independent person, accustomed to relying on herself and preferring to fill the bumps on her own and achieve her goals.
She is a passionate person, ready to devote herself completely to what arouses her interest. As long as this interest in her does not fade away, she can literally move mountains, but everything erected can crumble to dust if Sophia experiences disappointment or loses faith in the correctness of what she was doing. Sony, as a rule, are good friends, able to come to the rescue with advice and money. They have an innate diplomacy, and will never go ahead. They can be good leaders, but for their family they always remain wise and loving mothers, sisters, daughters.
