A List of Common Cyprus Name Days and their Associated Saints Celebrated...
Cyprus Name Days, (Greek: εορτή, eortē, or γιορτή, yiortí, "feast"). According to the Orthodox Church, every day of the year is dedicated to the memory of at least one (usually more than one) saint or martyr. If someone is named after a saint, then there is a big celebration on his or her name day. In Greece and Cyprus many names derive from long pagan tradition, and there may not be a Christian saint by the same name. In such a case the person is said "not to have" a name day, or they may choose to celebrate on All Saints' Day. The vast majority of name days are on the same date every year; the few exceptions are names directly or indirectly associated with Easter, and are floating. This facilitates social interaction, as all Greek language calendars include detailed name day lists. Some name days coincide with major Christian feasts.
For example people whose names are Chrēstos or Christine have their name day on Christmas, people named after St. Basil have their name day on New Year's Day, Anastásios and Anastasía on Easter Sunday, María and Mários on the Dormition or on the Presentation, etc. Cyprus Name Days are much like birthdays in Europe, or even more-name days are widely, and generously, celebrated in Cyprus. In fact, many might forgive you for forgetting a birthday, but failing to congratulate a friend, relative, associate or client on his or her name day will not go unnoticed. At the office or workplace, he or she will be seen touring the premises with a large tray of sweets, which are referred to as kerastika - a word that can hardly be translated, but suggests individually wrapped pieces of cake that can be offered on special occasions.
Common Cyprus Name Days January 1 ............ Vassillis January 6 ............ Photis, Photini (Ephiphany) January 7 ............ Ioannis, Ioanna (John, Joanna) April 23 .............. Giorgos (George) May 21 ............... Constantinos and Eleni June 29 .............. Petros and Pavlos (Peter, Paul) August 15 ............ Despina, Panayiota, Panayiotis (Assumption of the Virgin Mary) September 8 .......... Marios, Maria October 26 ........... Demetris November 8 ........... Angelos, Angela, Angelina, Angeliki November 30 .......... Andreas, Andri December 6 ........... Nikolas, Nikoletta December 25 .......... Christos, Christiana December 27 .......... Stephanos, Stephany
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