EPS 20
In Finland and Sweden, people not only celebrate their birthdays each year, but their name days as well. The tradition of assigning names to specific dates stretches back to medieval times.
As the importance of name days changed over the centuries, so did the various traditions associated with it. Nowadays, it’s mainly coffee-and-cake celebrations in workplaces, day care and schools.
Finland’s indigenous Sámi people also have their own name day calendar. There is also an Orthodox name day calendar that recognises the days of saints that are observed by the small population of Finnish Orthodox.
Most Nordic’s have adopted the commercial Halloween tradition of American-style pumpkin decorations and trick or treat customs. Iceland‘s answer to Halloween is Öskudagur in February, where kids dress up in costumes and go from door to door to sing for candy. In Finland during Easter Saturday, children dress up as little witches. The tradition derives from ancient times, when evil spirits and witches were thought to wander around, doing mischief before Easter.
You will learn
- How Nordics have celebrated Name Of the Day since Medieval times
- Some Nordic answers to Halloween
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