The Etymology and History of Days of the Week: From Sun and Moon to Saturn and Thunder

Introduction

The days of the week in English derive from a rich and diverse legacy, reflective of the deep historical and linguistic inheritance of our language. From the ancient Latin and Norse to the contemporary names we use today, the evolution of these terms offers fascinating insights into the cultural and religious development of Western civilization.

The Origins of Sunday and Monday

Sunday, the first day of the week, has its origins in the Old English Sunnandeg, which literally means 'day of the Sun'. This term developed from the Old Norse sunnudagr and is closely related to the Latin dies solis, meaning 'day of the Sun'. The English word "Sunday" is a direct derivative of Sunnandeg, and it is interesting to note that the full term was used as late as the 13th century. Before this, the term Sun-dayg was commonly used, signifying the day dedicated to the Sun, one of the most important deities in early Germanic paganism.

Monday, the second day of the week, comes from the old English term Mōnandeg, which means 'day of the Moon'. This name developed from mon (moon) and dag (day). The English name was derived sometime before 1200, with other variations like mōndaec and mōndeg also seen in early records.

The Influence of Roman and Germanic Myths

Latin Influence: The Romans named their days of the week after the planets, which were associated with their gods. This system was inherited by the Germanic-speaking peoples when they adopted the seven-day week, likely in the early centuries of the Christian era. This adoption brought us terms like "Tuesday" (from Tiw, the god of war), "Wednesday" (after Woden, the Germanic god of wisdom and war), "Thursday" (after Thor, the god of thunder), and "Friday" (after Frigg, the goddess of love and fertility).

Old English Adaptation: In Old English, the days of the week after Tuesday were named after their corresponding Roman gods. Monday and Sunday retained their Latin-derived terms, while Tuesday to Friday were named after Germanic gods. For example, Tuesday is named after Tiw, Wednesday after Woden, Thursday after Thunor (Thor) and Friday after Frigg.

Germanic and Norse Influences

Germanic Languages: The Germanic languages developed their own names for the days of the week, often closely mirroring their Latin counterparts. However, some changes were made, especially to avoid confusion with religious terms. For instance, German "Dienstag" (Tuesday) was derived from "Tiisdag" (Tiw's day) to avoid confusion with divine days. Similarly, "Mittwoch" (Wednesday) comes from "Wodentag" (Woden's day).

Norse Days of the Week: The Norse also had their own names for the days, often aligning with the Germanic names. For example, Wednesday is known as "Thunresdagr" in Old Norse, meaning "day of thunder" or "day of Thunor" (Thor).

The Modern Names and Their Evolution

Modern English: In modern English, the days of the week stand as a testament to our linguistic and cultural heritage. Each name carries the weight of history and mythology, reflecting the transition from pagan deities to Christian worship.

Other Languages: Many other languages also have unique terms that reflect their own religious and cultural histories. For example, in Icelandic, the days are named as follows:

Monday: Mánudagur (Moon day) Tuesday: Trjúugudagur (Tyr's day) Wednesday: Mánakerday (Mani the Moon God's day) Thursday: Thriejudagur (Third day) Friday: Fimmtudagur (Fifth day) Saturday: Laugardagur (Wash day) Sunday: Sunnudagur (Sun day)

Conclusion

The etymology and history of the days of the week reveal a complex interplay of cultural and religious beliefs, language development, and historical influences. From the ancient sun and moon to the thunder and war gods, each day of the week carries a wealth of cultural significance and linguistic heritage.

References

Anglo-Saxon Dictionary Roman Mythology Norse Mythology Lingua Franca