“Who’s name day is it today?”

Name days are a tradition of attaching personal names to each day of the year, and celebrating the association of particular days with those for whom that day is named. It is common in many parts of Europe. The tradition originates from the Christian church calendar and the tradition to name children after saints, although in many countries there is no longer a connection to the church.

From the 18th century onwards, names used by the royal family were introduced to the Swedish list of name days, 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 name day list. Competing name day 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.

(*=In Sweden the week begins with MONDAY…, Sunday ENDS the week!)

“Is there anything else that we celebrate today?”

There are no particular holidays in Sweden right now, apart from the fact that most people are getting off work - it’s SUMMER VACATION time in Sweden, and a lot of authorities, companies and industries actually CLOSE DOWN ENTIRELY for a couple of weeks!

We here at SwenglishRantings will also be taking a little time off, and things might not always be up to date here during the summer months. The name days might be a bit behind now and then for example… We hope you will understand WHY, and that you take the opportunity to enjoy the summer TOO - long hours in front of a computer screen doesn’t improve your tan one bit, you know!!!

Stay tuned for the NEXT update on Swedish name days and any other special occasions or events that might occur.

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