The Origin of the Days of the Week

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The Origin of the Days of the Week

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Saturday

Wednesday

Tuesday

Friday

Thursday

Monday

Sunday

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Video

Introduction

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Have you ever wondered how the days of the week got their names? In the following video, their origins will be explained. We'll learn how these names are related to ancient mythology and to the planets. 'Etymology' is the study of the origin of words. Some of the days of the week have a simple etymology, but many of the others aren't as easy! We will also be explained how these names relate to the Latin, Spanish, French , Italian and German languages. Join the class as we will travel back in history, and out into the solar system. I hope you enjoy the journey!

Introduction

Where do the names of the days of the week came from?

In this video we will learn about the origin of the names of the days of the week, their etimology, ancient mythology, planets and translation into other languages.

Video

The Babylonians named the days after the five planetary bodies known to them (Tuesday through Saturday) and after the Sun and Moon (Sunday and Monday). This custom was later adopted by the Romans. Emperor Constantine established the seven-day week in the Roman calendar in 321 and designated Sunday and Monday as the first two days of the week. The other weekday names in English are derived from Anglo-Saxon names for gods in Teutonic mythology.

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LATIN: Dies SolisGERMAN: Sonntag SPANISH: Domingo FRENCH: Dimanche ITALIAN: Domenica

In other languages

In the ancient times

"Sunday", the main religious day in the Christian world, but before Christianity in the pagan times, Sunday-obviously, "sun"-was named after the sun. In the beginning of time, when the cosmos were being created, so too was the Nordic goddess Sol or Sunna, brought into the universe along with her brother, Mani. Initially, the role of the siblings wasn’t clear, but after they created daytime and night, and also the phases of the moon, Sol and her brother were assigned their destiny. At a meeting of the existing gods, Sol was anointed the goddess of the sun, and Mani god of the moon.Sunday comes from Old English “Sunnandæg," which is derived from a Germanic interpretation of the Latin "Dies Solis", "sun's day."

SUNDAY

LATIN: Dies Lunae.GERMAN: Montag.SPANISH: Lunes. FRENCH: Lundi. ITALIAN: Lunedi.

In Other Languages

Monday likewise comes from Old English “Mōnandæg,” named after Máni, the Norse personification of the moon (and Sól's brother).

Moon´s Day

After the Sun...

And again, because the sun, most important and then after that you look up in the sky at night and you see the moon, so it's like the second most important thing that you see.

MONDAY

LATIN: Dies MartisGERMAN: Dienstag.SPANISH: Martes. FRENCH: Mardi. ITALIAN: Martedi.

In Other Languages

In the ancient times...

The English name is derived from Old English Tiwesdæg and Middle EnglishTewesday, meaning “Tīw’s Day”, the day of Tiw or Tyr, the god of single combat, and law and justice in Norse Mythology. He is equated with Mars, the Roman war god

TUESDAY

LATIN: Dies MercuriiGERMAN: Mittwoch.SPANISH: Miércoles. FRENCH: Mercredi. ITALIAN: Mercoledi.

In Other Languages

In the ancient times...

Tyr was one of the sons of Odin, or Woden, the supreme deity after whom Wednesday is named: Wednesday is "Wōden's day." He was the ruler of the Norse gods' realm and associated with wisdom, magic, victory and death. The Romans connected Wōden to Mercury because they were both guides of souls after death. “Wednesday” comes from Old English “Wōdnesdæg.”, Middle English Wednesdei,

WEDNESDAY

LATIN: Dies JovisGERMAN: Donnerstag.SPANISH: Jueves. FRENCH: Jeudi. ITALIAN: Giovedi.

In Other Languages

In the ancient times...

Thursday, "Thor's day," gets its English name after the hammer-wielding Norse god of thunder, strength and protection: Thor. Thunor, Donar (German, Donnerstag) . The Roman god Jupiter, as well as being the king of gods, was the god of the sky and thunder. “Thursday” comes from Old English “Þūnresdæg.” and Middle EnglishThuresday meaning “Thor’s Day”.

THURSDAY

LATIN: Dies VenerisGERMAN: Freitag.SPANISH: Viernes. FRENCH: Vendredi. ITALIAN: Venerdi.

In Other Languages

In the ancient times...

Friday is named after the wife of Odin. Some scholars say her name was Frigg; others say it was Freya; other scholars say Frigg and Freya were two separate goddesses. Whatever her name, she was often associated with Venus, the Roman goddess of love, beauty and fertility. “Friday” comes from Old English “Frīgedæg.”

FRIDAY

LATIN: Dies SaturniGERMAN: Samstag.SPANISH: Sábado FRENCH: Samedi. ITALIAN: Sabato

In Other Languages

In the ancient times...

Saturday, the final day of the week, was originally known as Laugardag (formed from Loki’s name, but it translates to wash-day). When adapted to English, the day did in fact maintain its connection to Loki. The word Saturday is based on Sataere (the thief in ambush). The English word “Saturday” comes from the Anglo-Saxon word “Sæturnesdæg,” which translates to “Saturn’s day.” It comes from Saturn, the ancient Roman god of fun and feasting.

SATURDAY

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