lífbreytt

Lífbreytt, also known as Icelandic namingdays, is a traditional Icelandic practice where a person's name is celebrated on a specific day of the year in honor of their saint or namesake. The tradition dates back to the pre-Reformation era when the Catholic Church designated specific saints for each day of the year, and the Icelandic calendar, known as the lífbreytt, was created to chronicle these saint days.

The lífbreytt is a calendar that originated in the 16th century and lists the saint days for each day of the year. The calendar was traditionally used to plan for celebrations and gift-giving. In Iceland, where the tradition is most prevalent, children would receive gifts and attention on their saint day, which was considered to be just as important as their birthday. The practice was commonly known as "lífbreytt" and was an integral part of Icelandic culture.

While the practice of lífbreytt is still celebrated in Iceland, it has largely fallen out of use in modern times. The tradition has been influenced by Christian denominations and variations of it can be found in different forms and contexts around the world. Despite its waning popularity, lífbreytt remains an important part of Icelandic history and culture, providing insight into the country's rich and unique traditions. Today, many Icelanders continue to celebrate lífbreytt as a way to connect with their heritage and cultural roots.