Unveiling the Ancient Secrets: The Mind-Blowing Origins Behind Our Weekday Names!

Have you ever wondered where the names of the days of the week come from? They are not just random words, but have a rich and fascinating history that spans different cultures and languages. In this article, we will explore the origins and meanings of the names of the seven days of the week, and how they reflect the ancient beliefs and practices of various peoples.

Sunday

Sunday is named after the Sun, the brightest and most important celestial body in our solar system. The ancient Romans called this day dies solis, meaning “day of the sun”. The Anglo-Saxons, who were influenced by Norse mythology, called it sunnandæg, meaning “sun’s day”. The Sun was associated with various deities, such as Sol in Roman mythology, Sunna in Norse mythology, and Helios in Greek mythology.

Monday

Monday is named after the Moon, the second brightest and most influential celestial body in our sky. The ancient Romans called this day dies lunae, meaning “day of the moon”. The Anglo-Saxons called it monandæg, meaning “moon’s day”. The Moon was also associated with various deities, such as Luna in Roman mythology, Mani in Norse mythology, and Selene in Greek mythology.

Tuesday

Tuesday is named after Tyr, the god of war and justice in Norse mythology. The ancient Romans called this day dies Martis, meaning “day of Mars”, who was the god of war in Roman mythology. The Anglo-Saxons replaced Mars with Tyr, who was also known as Tiw or Tiu, and called this day tiwesdæg, meaning “Tyr’s day”. Tyr was famous for sacrificing his hand to bind the monstrous wolf Fenrir.

Wednesday

Wednesday is named after Odin, the king of the gods and the god of wisdom, poetry, and magic in Norse mythology. The ancient Romans called this day dies Mercurii, meaning “day of Mercury”, who was the messenger of the gods and the god of commerce and travel in Roman mythology. The Anglo-Saxons replaced Mercury with Odin, who was also known as Woden or Wotan, and called this day wodnesdæg, meaning “Woden’s day”. Odin was known for his one-eyed appearance and his ravens Huginn and Muninn.

Thursday

Thursday is named after Thor, the god of thunder and lightning in Norse mythology. The ancient Romans called this day dies Iovis, meaning “day of Jupiter”, who was the king of the gods and the god of thunder and sky in Roman mythology. The Anglo-Saxons replaced Jupiter with Thor, who was also known as Thunor or Donar, and called this day thunresdæg, meaning “Thor’s day”. Thor was famous for his hammer Mjolnir and his battles with giants.

Friday

Friday is named after Frigg, the goddess of love and marriage in Norse mythology. The ancient Romans called this day dies Veneris, meaning “day of Venus”, who was the goddess of love and beauty in Roman mythology. The Anglo-Saxons replaced Venus with Frigg, who was also known as Freya or Freyja, and called this day frigedæg, meaning “Frigg’s day”. Frigg was known for her golden necklace Brisingamen and her ability to see the future.

Saturday

Saturday is named after Saturn, the god of agriculture and time in Roman mythology. The ancient Romans called this day dies Saturni, meaning “day of Saturn”. The Anglo-Saxons did not replace Saturn with any Norse deity, but simply called this day sæternesdæg, meaning “Saturn’s day”. Saturn was famous for his sickle and his role in overthrowing his father Uranus.

Summary

The names of the days of the week are derived from the names of the classical planets in Hellenistic astronomy, which were in turn named after contemporary deities. Our English names also reflect the influence of the Anglo-Saxons (and other Germanic peoples), who replaced some of the Roman deities with their Norse counterparts. By learning about these origins and meanings, we can appreciate how our language and culture are shaped by our ancestors’ worldview and imagination.

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