From the Ancients: Week Days
|
Posted by Robin Fowler Oct 20, 2006 |
Sunday - From the Old English Sunnandaeg, "day of the sun". That originated from the Latin dies solis. Though considered the Lord's day in western religion (consider the French dimanche and the Spanish domingo, derived from dies Dominica in church Latin), the English language preserved the pagan meaning of the day.
- From the Old English Monandaeg, or "day of the moon". That originated from the Latin dies lunae. This derivation is more obvious in French (lundi) and Spanish (lunes).
Monday
Tuesday - From the Old English Tiwesdaeg, or "Tyr's day". Tyr, the Norse god of war, is associated with the Roman god of war, Mars, and the name originated from the Latin dies martis, or "day of Mars". This derivation is more obvious in French (mardi), and Spanish (martes).
Wednesday - From the Old English Wodnesdaeg, or "day of Woden (or Odin)". Odin is associated with the Roman god Mercury, both of which were gods of poetry and music, and the name is derived from the Latin dies Mercurii, or "day of Mercury". Consider the French (mercredi) and Spanish (miercoles) for a more obvious connection.
Thursday - From an Old English word meaning "the day of Thor". Thor was the Norse god of Thunder and was closely associated with Jupiter (or Jove), and the name is derived from the Latin, dies Iovis, or "day of Jove". The derivation is more obvious in French (jeudi) and Spanish (jueves).
Friday - From the Old English Frigedaeg, or "day of Frige". Frige was a goddess of beauty, and was associated with Venus, the Roman goddess of love and beauty. The name is derived from the Latin dies Veneris, or "day of Venus". Consider the French (vendredi) and Spanish (viernes) for a more obvious connection.
Saturday - This day of the week is the only one that retains its Roman roots. From the Latin dies Saturni, or "day of Saturn". In French (samedi) and Spanish (sabado), the words are derived from dies sambata, or "day of the sabbath".
It is also interesting to note that the origins of the days of the week also share their names with the other planets in our solar system.