Namesdays or name days are a Swedish tradition of attaching personal names to each day of the year, and celebrating the association of particular days with those having this name. (For example, the name of January 28 is Karl (or spelled in another way: Carl), and Swedes celebrate the namesday of King Carl Gustaf - and all other men named Karl - on this day).
The celebration of namesdays has been a tradition in Sweden since the Middle Ages. The namesdays originate in the list of holidays celebrated in commemoration of saints and martyrs of the Catholic Church. (The name Karl or Carl on January 28 was originally Carolus Magnus, the Latin form of Charlemagne, and a commemoration of his death on this date). The church promoted celebration of namesdays (or rather saints days) over birthdays, as the latter was seen as a pagan tradition. During medieval times the namesdays were of little significance in the Nordic countries, except for the celebration of patron saints for various guilds.
A calendar page from 1712 with namesdays
A more widespread celebration of namesdays began in the 17th century, at first in the royal court and among aristocracy, but later among the general population. From the 18th century and onwards the list of namesdays was modified in Sweden and Finland, but not in other countries. Names used by the royal family were introduced to the list, followed by other common names. In 1901 a comprehensive modernization was made to make list up to date with current names. The monopoly on almanacs, held by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, expired in 1972 and so did the official namesday list. Competing namesday lists began to emerge but the official list was still in general use until 1986 when consensus of a new list with three names on each day was reached. This list was revised in 1993 and reduced to two names on each day. However, widespread dissatisfaction with the list prompted the Swedish Academy to compile a new two-name list which was finally accepted and brought into use in 2001. Although it does not have the official status of the 1901 or older lists, it is now universally used in Sweden.
Namesday calendar
This is the old list, sanctioned by the Academy in 1901. Some days still refer to traditional or religious feasts rather than personal names. Some of the names below are linked to the original saints or martyrs from which they originate. (For the current 2001 list, see external links below)
See also
External links
- Swedish names http://www.svenskanamn.se/ - in Swedish
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The list of 2001 http://www.svenskaakademien.se/SVE/akademialmanackan/namndatum.html - Information about the list from the Swedish Academy - in Swedish
Last updated: 02-09-2005 20:19:20
Last updated: 05-03-2005 17:50:55
