Your name day comes with the celebration for the saint after whom your were named. The tradition is largely Catholic but not restricted to Roman Catholics since Greeks celebrate it too and their faith is Greek Orthodox which resembles Roman Catholicism in many ways. (NameDayCalendar.com: Search Judith)
Germany celebrates St Judith's name day on May 13 and that one works when I'm not sure of the extent of Prussia at the time, early Thirteenth Century. The name days vary considerably from one country to another for who knows what reason and Judith was also known as Jutta so she has multiple name days in some countries.
Judith was of the nobility but she gave it all away to spend the rest of her life caring for the sick, particularly lepers. Her piety gained a reputation all around and the number of people who came for her funeral was said to be incredible. There is a shrine by her grave and people say it has curative powers. (Roman Catholic Saints: Saint Judith of Prussia)
Americans don't think much or at all of their name days but your name day in Europe can have greater significance than your birthday and is celebrated similarly, possibly even more. It's probably obvious I know Judith or why bother with the research but real names are absolutely verboten on the blog and you won't even get a clue whether the reads the blog. From the links I have given you will be able to find your own name day, assuming you were named after a saint and not Chip, Big Kahuna, or Bubba.
This is one of the reasons I love Euros as they can make an excuse for a party out of just about anything.
My name day is October 14 in Germany and that's kind of cool since I really didn't think I had one. I'm sure there's a Saint Andrew but I don't know for the rest of the family. I suppose I figured saint names are Mark, Luke, John and mine was not saintly enough but, what do you know.
Whoa, I wonder what he did (larfs).
Hmm ... the first one devoted himself to restoring the use of the Rosary and was largely successful in doing that but he's not blowing me away so far when I look at what Saint Judith did.
This information really would mean something in Europe while here it likely get a wtf. It's all good as it doesn't matter if you do or you don't but, what the hell, why not.
Germany celebrates St Judith's name day on May 13 and that one works when I'm not sure of the extent of Prussia at the time, early Thirteenth Century. The name days vary considerably from one country to another for who knows what reason and Judith was also known as Jutta so she has multiple name days in some countries.
Judith was of the nobility but she gave it all away to spend the rest of her life caring for the sick, particularly lepers. Her piety gained a reputation all around and the number of people who came for her funeral was said to be incredible. There is a shrine by her grave and people say it has curative powers. (Roman Catholic Saints: Saint Judith of Prussia)
Americans don't think much or at all of their name days but your name day in Europe can have greater significance than your birthday and is celebrated similarly, possibly even more. It's probably obvious I know Judith or why bother with the research but real names are absolutely verboten on the blog and you won't even get a clue whether the reads the blog. From the links I have given you will be able to find your own name day, assuming you were named after a saint and not Chip, Big Kahuna, or Bubba.
This is one of the reasons I love Euros as they can make an excuse for a party out of just about anything.
My name day is October 14 in Germany and that's kind of cool since I really didn't think I had one. I'm sure there's a Saint Andrew but I don't know for the rest of the family. I suppose I figured saint names are Mark, Luke, John and mine was not saintly enough but, what do you know.
Whoa, I wonder what he did (larfs).
Hmm ... the first one devoted himself to restoring the use of the Rosary and was largely successful in doing that but he's not blowing me away so far when I look at what Saint Judith did.
This information really would mean something in Europe while here it likely get a wtf. It's all good as it doesn't matter if you do or you don't but, what the hell, why not.
4 comments:
My eyes misted up just a little...
That name day business seems like some quaint Old Country tradition until you look at it a little bit and find surprising depth. When your parents have a strong Euro background, they almost certainly know of name days and that gives more significance to the name they chose than, well, you have a relative by that name. They gave me this name for this reason so why did they do that and you have all your name day to think about it. To me, the tradition is a delight.
Judith-Greek-"-Her gender made her a natural example of the biblical paradox of “strength in weakness”; she is thus paired with David and her beheading of Holofernes paralleled with that of Goliath – both deeds saved the Covenant People from a militarily superior enemy".
I only knew the name to mean "strong woman"
She sounds like Joan of Arc! This adds to Saint Judith from Prussia whose parents perhaps got her name from that inspiration.
Genealogy doesn't draw me much but Yevette can tell you of it in such detail she will seriously have your head swimming from it. I appreciate her enthusiasm for it the origins of names is maybe fascinating in the same way and how I came to be named this way might even mean something.
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