"Name Days" are celebrated in addition to birthdays in Bulgaria. Truth be known, most Bulgarians value their ‘Name Day’ more than their birthday. A Name Day, or "Saints Day" is celebrated by people named after that Saint (eg. everyone named Peter celebrates Saint Peter's day). We could accurately say that "a Name Day is the feast day of the saint after whom one is named."



Bulgaria is largely a Christian country. On their 'Name Day' the person is to light a candle in the local church. These special 'Name Days' ("immen den" in Bulgarian) are celebrated with a family meal. It is appropriate that a religious icon commemorating the saint after whom a Christian is named is given as a gift on such occasions.