Looking for a simple tradition for birthdays and name day celebrations that is also meaningful? I want to share a recent discovery of the Blue Blessing Plate with you! A friend of mine shared this with me a few months ago and I knew I wanted to add it to our special celebrations!

Similar to the old school “You are Special Today” red plates I’ve seen, the Blue Blessing Plate is a simple addition to your celebrations. It reads “God Grant You Many Years” which I like SO much more!

If you’re unfamiliar with the phrase “God grant you many years" it is the most common expression of Orthodox Christians on any day of celebration - weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, namedays, and more. This joyful greeting is really a recognition that every day and every year is a gift from God.

So how do you use it? On your family member’s name day or birthday, serve their food on the Blue blessing plate! It’s that simple! Makes for a great birthday present, wedding gift, and anniversary gift (heck, Mother’s Day too!). Available in Greek as well!

We started selling them at our Church Bookstore (they offer bulk discounts as well), and since April is a big month of celebrations for us, I decided to purchase one and I’m so glad we did. My daughter was so excited it her was her turn to use the Blue Plate! This will be an annual tradition for years to come in our family.