"One evening, Ion and Maria couldn’t sleep. At one point, Maria asked Ion:
Maria: Ion, are you asleep?
Ion: No!
Maria: Ion, do you love me?
Ion: I’m asleep!”

Ion is one of the most popular Romanian names, so widespread that jokes featuring Ion are among the funniest; there are even books of jokes written by and about Ion. It is estimated that there are around 2 million Romanians with this name, which is approximately 10 per cent of the population. This is why Saint John’s Day is one of the most important name days, celebrated every year on 7 January.

If you’re looking for a gift for an Ion or an Ioana, here are a few ideas from us to help you out if you’re stuck for inspiration. We’re in a bit of a joking mood, so alongside our recommendations, we invite you to have a bit of a laugh.

Gifts for men on St John’s Day

‘Maria comes back from shopping and says to her husband Ion:
‘I’ve got two pieces of news for you!
The bad news: I’ve spent all your money.
The good news: I love you just as you are, even though you’re poor!”

It may not be the same for you as in the example above, but practical gifts are generally a good choice. So a personalised wallet with his name on it, or a little joke about how money goes quickly, will be a much-appreciated gift.

“Two mates were having a chat:
- ‘Hey, John, let’s go for a beer at the bar on the corner!
- But when I rang you half an hour ago, you said you had a terrible headache!
- I did, but it’s gone off to do the shopping.”

At least on his name day, whether he’s your husband, friend or colleague, he deserves to be treated like royalty! Choose to personalise a bottle of beer with his name, or you could give him a set of six ‘lovely blondes’ ready to be enjoyed. Warning! Anything said after the fifth beer is called a slip of the tongue!

“–Ioane, where’s the bottle of brandy?
– Well, Marie, I was disinfecting a wound.
‘What sort of wound?
-A wound of the soul!”

Whether for situations like this or not… we recommend these genuine leather pocket flasks – the perfect gift for those who prefer spirits.

“Ion gets off the plane with his trousers in his hand:
-I’m never flying again!!! I’m never flying! Fasten your seatbelt, unfasten your seatbelt, fasten your seatbelt, unfasten your seatbelt!”

We wouldn’t wish to be in Ion’s shoes, but if you’d still like a new accessory that goes with both casual and smart outfits, you could opt for a personalised belt featuring your name or initial. These also make perfect gifts, as they’re made from genuine leather and handcrafted.

Gifts for women on St John’s Day

“– Ioano, look out of the window, there’s a horse in our garden!
– Gheorghe, it’s not a horse, it’s a cow!
‘Through the window, Ioana, not in the mirror!’

We won’t say any more here, except that you can give a personalised apron and a rolling pin as a gift. What or who it’s for is entirely up to you! In the traditional version, it’s called a ‘facalet’. We call it the ‘mind-twister’. We hope you’ll have a soft spot for whoever you give it to!

“On their 20th wedding anniversary, after Gheorghe and Ionela had celebrated, Gheorghe went out onto the balcony and started smoking one cigarette after another:
‘What’s the matter, Gheorghe?’ asked Ionela curiously.
‘Do you remember 20 years ago when your dad caught us in the car?’
- Yes!
- Do you remember what he said to me? That if I didn’t marry you, I’d get 20 years in prison?
- Yes!
- I was due to be released tomorrow…”

Some of the most sought-after gifts are the “Star of Gratitude” painting and sparkling wine. We hope you don’t take marriage too seriously, but a bit of light-hearted fun never goes amiss. :D

You can find more ideas for serious or not-so-serious gifts on our website, and even though the month of gift-giving is over, Ion and Ioana don’t care about that! With a bit of imagination and a little help from us, we’re sure you can give unforgettable gifts!

Happy birthday, Ioan! Happy birthday, Ioana!