Remembering Martins’ Names Day
By RasmaSandra
@RasmaSandra (90718)
Daytona Beach, Florida
November 10, 2025 3:07pm CST
In Latvian tradition we have both birthdays and name days. In the Latvian calendar, when your name appears, it is your names day. My late husband Martin’s names day was on Novenber 10th. His name Martins was derived from the Latin word "marinus," coming from the name Mars, the war god in Roman mythology. In Latvia Martins is among the most popular names for guys. So he had a popular and well-known name and being traced to Mars the war god you can imagine that he was always my rock to lean on. Miss and remember our celebrations on this day. In Latvian on someone’s names day anyone who wants to can come to visit so if we were not throwing a party we would be prepared for guests.
10 people like this
10 responses
@DaddyEvil (161375)
• United States
10 Nov
@RasmaSandra 
Pretty and I have trouble remembering our own birthdays... I usually have to set alarms on my phone to remind me so I wish her a happy birthday on the correct day. Adding something else to remember wouldn't help, I'm afraid. 
Pretty and I have trouble remembering our own birthdays... I usually have to set alarms on my phone to remind me so I wish her a happy birthday on the correct day. Adding something else to remember wouldn't help, I'm afraid. 2 people like this
@RasmaSandra (90718)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
10 Nov
@DaddyEvil with names days you get two celebrations for yourself in one year. Of course, it depends on what your first name is because if you know someone Latvian who has a calendar you can know if there is a day with your name,
2 people like this
@RasmaSandra (90718)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
11h
@LadyDuck the name Anna appears in the Latvian calendar on July 26
2 people like this
@RasmaSandra (90718)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
10 Nov
@AmbiePam I always had some blown up pics of him I would put up when we had a party on this day,
2 people like this
@snowy22315 (198569)
• United States
10 Nov
It's always interesting to hear how traditions got started.
2 people like this
@RasmaSandra (90718)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
11h
@snowy22315 I always enjoyed having a birthday and a names day.
2 people like this
@celticeagle (181730)
• Boise, Idaho
10 Nov
How interesting. I enjoy hearing about other countries celebrations and such. I hope you are having a nice day although he can't be there with you.
2 people like this
@RasmaSandra (90718)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
11h
@RebeccasFarm for the first name of Rebecca in the Latvian calendar your names day would be on January 23.
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@RasmaSandra (90718)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
11h
@JudyEv it was nice to also have a names day.
1 person likes this
@innertalks (23305)
• Australia
10 Nov
That is interesting, and it shows how we should see our own name as being more than just our name, as it stands for a whole lot more too.
I believe in the Catholic religion, they have name days too, where believers there, named after a particular Saint, celebrate a Saint's names day.
I was named after Saint Stephen, whose name day is celebrated on December 26th, which is known as Saint Stephen's Day, or Boxing Day, in many countries too.
@RasmaSandra (90718)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
11h
@innertalks that is also interesting,
1 person likes this
@aninditasen (17787)
• Raurkela, India
18h
That's an interesting tradition. If no one comes how do you celebrate name day?
2 people like this
@RasmaSandra (90718)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
11h
@aninditasen just me with my husband or we asked friends to come over,
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (205626)
• United States
22h
That's a very interesting and special tradition.
2 people like this
@RasmaSandra (90718)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
11h
@LindaOHio it gives a person two celebrations for themselved in the year Linda is also a Latvian name and your names day would be on August 21 when your name shows up in the calendar
1 person likes this
