The “onomastic” is a secular religious celebration that commemorates the day of a saint, a saint, or a person who carries a specific name. The word “onomastic” derives from the Greek “onoma,” meaning “name.” This celebration is most common in countries with a Christian tradition, where many names are associated with saints who have specific days on which they are honored.
In the religious context, the onomastic is a feast day dedicated to the saint or saint whose name corresponds to that of the individual celebrating. For example, if someone calls themselves “John” and St. John’s Day is June 24, that person would celebrate their onomastic on June 24.
Celebrations of the “onomastic” may vary according to cultural and religious traditions. Generally, people who share the same name can offer prayers, attend special religious services, or receive congratulations from friends and family. Some people may even hold parties or gatherings to celebrate this special date.
It is worth mentioning that the “onomastic” differs from the birthday, which is the celebration of the day of a person’s birth. While the birthday is unique to each individual, the onomastic can be shared by several people who have the same name but celebrate on different dates according to the calendar of saints venerated in different religious traditions.
“Onomastic” in Italy
In Italy, the term “onomastic” has the same meaning usually attributed to it in other cultures. It refers to the celebration of the day of a saint whose name corresponds to that of a person. The tradition of commemorating the onomastic is quite popular in Italian culture, especially among Catholic Christians, who have a wide variety of saints with their feast days throughout the year.
When someone has a name that corresponds to that of a saint or saint with a special day of celebration in the Catholic calendar, that person can commemorate their “onomastic” on that date.
During the “onomastic”, it is common to receive greetings and congratulations from friends and family. Some people may attend special religious services, such as masses in honor of the saint or saint whose name they share.
In addition, in Italy, the “onomastico” can be seen as an opportunity to gather family and friends at a party or reunion, just as it happens in other countries with similar traditions.
It is worth mentioning that the tradition of the “onomastic” can vary between Italian regions and communities, but in general it is a practice appreciated and respected in the culture of the country.
Anniversary Celebration in the “Onomastico”- Southern Italy
In Italy, especially in the south, it is common for some people to celebrate their “onomastico” (name of the saint or saint corresponding to their own name) instead of celebrating the traditional birthday (birth day). This tradition is rooted in the country’s cultural and religious origins.
The celebration of the “onomastic” is a more common practice among older generations, although it is still observed in some families and communities in southern Italy. In many cases, people celebrate both the birth anniversary and the onomastic one.
The relevance of the “onomastic” in Italy is due to the strong influence of the Catholic tradition in the country. As mentioned earlier, many names are associated with saints in the liturgical calendar of the Catholic Church. When a person has the same name as a saint or saint with a feast on the calendar, he can celebrate his onomastic on this date.
For example, if a person is called “Giovanni” (John) and St. John’s Day is June 24, he may choose to celebrate his onomastic on that date instead of celebrating the birth anniversary.
However, it is important to note that cultural practices can vary between different families, communities and regions of Italy. Therefore, not all people in southern Italy strictly follow this tradition, and some may choose to celebrate only the birth anniversary, as is more common in many other places.
“Onomastic” calendar
The “onomastic” calendar https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calendario_dei_santi is a list that contains the names of saints along with the dates on which they are commemorated. These dates are considered religious feast days and are traditionally associated with people who have the same name as the saints and saints honored.
Below are some important dates of the onomastic calendar, celebrated in many countries of Christian tradition, including the Catholic liturgical calendar. It is important to remember that the list may vary depending on the country and religious tradition:
1 January: Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God
January 6: Epiphany or Twelfth Day
January 25: Conversion of St. Paul
February 2: Presentation of the Lord or Purification of Our Lady
February 14: Valentine (Valentine’s Day)
On March 19: Saint Joseph, Adoptive Father of Jesus
Palm Sunday (variable date): Beginning of Holy Week
Easter Sunday (variable date): Resurrection of Jesus
April 23: St. George
May 1: St. Joseph the Worker
May 31: Visitation of Our Lady
On June 13: Saint Anthony of Padua
June 24: St. John the Baptist
June 29: St. Peter and St. Paul
August 15: Assumption of Our Lady
September 8: Nativity of Our Lady
September 29: St. Michael the Archangel
On October 4: St. Francis of Assisi
October 31: Halloween – All Saints’ Day Eve
November 1: All Saints
December 8: Immaculate Conception of Mary
December 25: Christmas – Birth of Jesus
These are just a few of the many dates of celebration present in the onomastic calendar. Each country and culture may have its own list of venerated saints, with some variations in the dates of commemoration. It is a tradition that has endured for centuries and continues to be important in many religious communities around the world.
Grazie per la lettura e “Buon Onomastico!”
