We are adding a nameday poster to each of our classrooms this year. Our main theme is the Gospel of John and I had intended this activity to be for our Preschool – 2nd grade kids as a supplement to the main lesson throughout the year. However, after sharing the outline and new activities for this year at our Sunday School Teacher Retreat this past weekend, the teachers for the older grades also requested to use this poster in their classrooms as well.

For younger students, we are asking them to:

• Bring an icon of their patron saint on the Sunday closest to their nameday
• Share as much as they know about their patron saint (Teachers are being encouraged to research their students’ patron saints to supplement what the kids share with the class.)

Our older students will use this poster as a beginning of the year ice breaker and wish each other “Many Years!” throughout the year.

In the classrooms, our goals are to teach:

• What is a nameday?
• How do we celebrate our nameday?

For our parents, our goals are to encourage them to:

• Bring their child(ren) to liturgy on their nameday
• Read / tell the life of their patron saint on their nameday
• Our patron saints are examples and guides to us as we strive to acquire the virtues and unite ourselves to Christ. What can we learn from our patron saints?

For example, one of the discussions we’ll have with our son, Symeon, is about patience. St. Symeon the God-Receiver was exceedingly patient as he waited to hold Christ in the Temple. What is patience? What are some (specific) ways that you can work on being more patient?

Use in the classroom or home:

You can list names on the sections of candles, with or without, the day of the month of their nameday next to their name.

When using this poster at home, make sure to include the namedays of grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and godparents!

*This poster was created by my oldest daughter, at my request, for our church school program. I’m enormously appreciative of the time she spent on creating it for me after she got home from work in the evenings! She is offering it as a digital download on Etsy for anyone who would like to use it as well. I would LOVE to see how all of you use it in your churches and homes!