Interesting Words 02: The Days of the Week

Sunday is, of course, part of the weekend but it is also technically the first day of the week. Calendars in the United States and Canada usually start the week with Sunday. It is also called by various Christian groups Sabbath or the Lord's Day. The word comes from the Old English, Sunnandæg, which literally means 'day of the sun.' The term, as for the word in other Germanic languages, is probably a Germanic translation of the Latin dies solis and named after the Germanic goddess of the sun, Sunna and the Norse god of the sun, Sól.

Monday, the beginning of the work week, is derived from the Old English word mōnandæg, literraly meaning "day of the moon." It is also a Germanic translation of the Latin lunae dies and also finds its origins from the Nordic god of the moon, Máni, the brother of Sól.

Tuesday is named after the the Nordic god of single combat and heroic glory Týr, also known as Tiw in the Old English. Tyr is the equivalent of the Roman god Mars. Tuesday derived from the Old English word, tíwesdæg.

Wednesday is named after the Anglo-Saxon god Wōden, also known as Odin in the Norse language. The name comes from the Old English word, Wēdnes dæg, and the Middle English word, Wednes dei. Wōden was closely associated with the Roman god Mercury. In the Anglo-Saxon and Nordic pantheon, Odin is the chief god.

Thursday of course was named after the Norse god of thunder, Thor, whose Roman equivalent is Jupiter. In the Old English, the day was called Þunresdæg. Eventually the 'n' was dropped due to the influence of the Old Norse version, Þorsdagr.

Friday is named after the Nordic goddess Frigg (or Frigga), the wife of Odin. The name comes from the Old English name frigedæg. Now in the other Germanic languages, the day is named after the goddess Freyja. Both goddess seam to be associated with the Roman goddess, Venus.

Saturday, the last day of the week and the beginning of the weekend, is the only day of the week in English that is not named after a Norse or Anglo-Saxon god. It is named after the Roman god of agriculture, Saturn.