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Holidays, Mia vita · October 19, 2009

Buon onomastico!

 

onomastico

 

Today is my onomastico, or name day, here in Italy. You didn’t know today was dedicated to Saint Laura? That’s just fine, because no one seems to know! St. Laura de Cordoba was a Spanish Christian living under Muslim rule in Spain in the 9th century. After she was widowed she became a nun at Cuteclara, but not much is known about her life or the cult that spread across Europe after her death. She was martyred by Muslims who scalded her to death in a vat of boiling lead on this day in 864. Ouch!

Here in Italy, especially in southern Italy, one’s onomastico is a day of celebration and warm wishes from family and friends, much like a birthday. Who can complain about having two days to celebrate during the year? Onomastico is a rather strange word that intrigued me when I first saw it on greeting cards here on the Amalfi Coast. Now you know what it means if you hear people wishing one another a “Buon onomastico” during your travels in Italy.

Posted In: Holidays, Mia vita

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Comments

  1. Lost in Sicily says

    October 19, 2009 at 11:33

    Happy name day, Laura!

    Reply
  2. Richard Curtis says

    October 19, 2009 at 12:06

    Buon Giorno Laura,

    Buono Onomastica!

    I used to celebratet this day but I get called so many names I could never figure out which one to celebrate anymore….you know like; " hey you $(j(^%#@!!!"……hohohoh

    Love and Light,

    richard

    Reply
  3. Megan in Liguria says

    October 19, 2009 at 13:10

    Tanti auguri!!! 🙂

    Reply
  4. Cherrye Moore says

    October 19, 2009 at 16:11

    Auguri!

    Reply
  5. ladylitigator says

    October 19, 2009 at 16:32

    Auguri Laura.

    Reply
  6. Anne in Oxfordshire says

    October 19, 2009 at 20:21

    Happy name day Laura.. great to have a day named after you 🙂 Mine is on the 26th July I believe. Must look it up properly!

    Reply
  7. Laura says

    October 19, 2009 at 23:25

    Well thanks for that information! What a nasty ending for her. I will mark my calendar and celebrate our day next year.
    -Laura

    Reply
  8. Laura says

    October 22, 2009 at 10:56

    Ciao a tutti! Many thanks to everyone for the sweet wishes! 🙂

    Reply
  9. Barbara says

    October 19, 2010 at 20:00

    Happy Name’s Day, Laura! I have to go on my Polish-Italian schtick here, seeing as I’m up North visiting my relatives constantly and Poles are convinced that Italians love them, copy them constantly, and know all about Poland. In Poland you tend to only celebrate the Name’s Day, which becomes extremely convenient when you reach a certain age and don’t want to tell anyone it’s your birthday, but still want to get presents at some point during the year. The Name’s day is a real boon. Hope you enjoyed it! 🙂

    Reply
    • Laura says

      October 20, 2010 at 07:20

      Ciao Barbara! Oh, that’s interesting about only celebrating the Name Day in Poland. I had no idea! But I think I’d ditch the birthday celebrations if I was Italian because of that strange tradition where you have to pay for dinner or drinks for every one if you go out. I’m VERY American in this respect… I want others to spoil ME on MY birthday! I think that’s so much nicer than the Italian approach. I’m not sure if there’s the same tradition for the onomastico though. I hope not! Oh, and very clever about not having to reveal your age when celebrating the onomastico! 🙂

      Reply

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My name is Laura and the Amalfi Coast is my passion and my home. I’m a writer and photographer who is endlessly inspired by the incredible beauty of the Amalfi Coast. Welcome to Ciao Amalfi!

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