In which countries you celebrate a name-day (el santo)?

Question

I'm just curious. Everybody knows the day of their birthday (el cumpleaños). How about name-day (el santo)?

In Poland on each page of calendar you have a few names for every day of a year (not only of saints). However, if the same name appears more then once in a year it is a bit of guessing game, when a given person celebrates it.

Answer 1

I have never heard of it.

• Polish, Chech, German... I wonder - who else...? ;) - Behemoth Oct 17, 2009

Answer 2

Name-day is big in Spain, Actually some people with a very famous name, like Pilar or José don't even celebrate their birthday but their name-day where they invite family to lunch or something.

Both, el Dia del Pilar or San José are holidays in Spain.

Answer 3

So the opinion, that in Spain you don't celebrate "el santo" is not true, to call it nicely...?

From site titled "How it is in Spain"

"Neither you will receive flowers for your name-day, as it is not celebrated in Spain."

Answer 4

In Hungary, everybody who knows your name knows when to celebrate it. Not too many people knows other's birthday. So, name day is more popular.
By the way, every day has a saints name attached in my country, and fairly sure that is how it is done elsewhere also.

Answer 5

In Poland my name day is on the 25th of november. Name day in Poland very important to all party lovers,just another opportunity to celebrate and meet up for a drink :D