Today, every Jacob you know, and quite a few Jameses too, shares a name day with the Greek tradition. It is the kind of date that can travel easily across Montreal: from an uncle named Iakovos to a classmate named Jacob, from a co-worker called James to a neighbour whose family knows the name as Jacques or Jakub.
Iakovos was a major figure of the age of the Apostles, remembered as James the Just and also as the Brother of the Lord. In Orthodox tradition, he was understood to be a half-brother of Jesus from Joseph’s previous marriage, while Roman Catholic tradition generally identified him with James son of Alphaeus and James the Less. Most sources agree that he should not be confused with the Apostle James.
The name comes into Greek as Ιάκωβος from the Hebrew Ya’aqov, carried into the Greek of the New Testament and then into Latin as Iacobus. From there the family of forms spread widely across Europe, giving English both Jacob and James, French Jacques, Italian Giacomo, Spanish Jaime and many others. It is one of those old travelling names whose branches look different but still belong to the same tree.
There is something steady and grounded about Jacob today. It suits the papou who never misses a family birthday call, the university friend everyone trusts with the group project, and the colleague named James who quietly keeps the whole office running when deadlines tighten.
Chronia Polla! to everyone celebrating today, in Greek and non-Greek circles alike. If you know a Jacob, James, Jim or Jimmy, this is a lovely day to send a quick message, say happy name day, and share a small Greek custom with someone who may not even know the celebration belongs to them.
