We all know by now that it's Monday. We knew that when the dreaded alarm clock rudely intruded upon our peaceful slumbers early this morning to roust us up and send us off to the first work day of the week. But -- do we know what (else) Monday actually means?
For starters, Monday is Day 1 of the week as delineated on the Julian calendar.
It's generally held that the seven-day week was established as the imperial calendar by the late Roman Empire -- I'm not sure whether that refers to the Holy Roman Empire, which was neither holy nor strictly Roman -- and fostered by the Christian church for historical reasons. The British Empire subsequently used the seven-day week and spread it worldwide. Plus, the number 7 may have had some mystical significance to the ancients.
Most Latin-based languages connect each day of the week with one of the seven "planets" of the ancient times: Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. French, for example, uses:
English: Monday French: Lundi Planet: Moon
English: Tuesday French: Mardi Planet: Mars
English: Wednesday French: Mercredi Planet: Mercury
English: Thursday French: Jeudi Planet: Jupiter
English: Friday French: Vendredi Planet: Venus
English: Saturday French: Samedi Planet: Saturn
English: Sunday French: Dimanche Planet: (Sun)
The link with the sun has been broken in French, but Sunday was called dies solis (day of the sun) in Latin.
Some Asiatic languages, e.g., Hindi, Japanese, and Korean, have a similar relationship between the week days and the planets.
English has retained the original planets in the names for Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. For the four other days, however, the names of Anglo-Saxon or Nordic gods have replaced the Roman gods that gave name to the planets. Thus, Tuesday is named after Tiw, Wednesday is named after Woden, Thursday is named after Thor, and Friday is named after Freya.
Ergo, what we can deduce from the foregoing is that today is in actuality Lundi-Monday-Moonday. Go crazy, kids.
We had high winds yesterday and my dog barked at the wind all day long. She was still barking when we went to bed last night. You'd think that at her age, she'd know what wind is -- and that it stays outside and probably won't stage a home invasion. Do they ever get over that?
And what are we wearing today for Monday dress-up? I have on black and charcoal pants, black angora sweater trimmed with rhinestones and beads, black flats. And you?
TWISTED LINGUISTICS is putting these Words Gone Wild on trial today. You are the jury. Define them if you wish, or just march them outside and execute them. It's up to you.
every bith
plagerizing
infingement
gaurd dog
no way which I can be held libel
15 comments:
Time for a new poll!
Monday, no matter how you dress it or label it, is still Monday if I have to work it. Why don't we just make Mondays a permanant world holiday and then Tuesday can be the next Monday!
Oh, and you'll be relieve that I am wearing clothes while blogging...just jeans and layered shirt combo. I have a casual work environment...when I go there.
Yes in Hindi we have the days named after planets
Sunday-Itiwaar
Monday- Somrwaar
Tuesday- Mangalwaar
Wednesday- Budhwaar
Thursday- Bhraspaitwaar
Friday-Shukrwaar
Saturday- Shaniwaar.
Although six are names of planets The sunday or Itiwaar means the 'end day'
Every bith: Every Bitch without a 'c' ;)
plagerizing: The rising cases of the disease Plague
infingement: Putting your finger in...( whatever)
Gaurd Dog: Typos: Of both 'God' & 'Guard'
no way which I can be held libel: No matter what case you put on me, I will run so fast that I will never be held!
Yeah, I know, VE. I'll have to think up something. I like your Monday idea, but then, as you pointed out, there would be the problem of Tuesday. Apparently, there are pitfalls to everything.:)
A casual work environment is the best work environment -- when you have to go there.
Thanks for the information on Hindi names for days of the week, Mona. Very interesting! And thank you for your delightful definitions.:-)
No, then we just make Tuesday a permanent holiday and then Wednesday becomes the next Monday. You see where this is leading...
So what's the etymology of "Hump Day"?..
no way in which I can be held libel ...for my slanderous behavior!
I think we should follow the leader, VE, and continue the trend. Eventually, every day will be a holiday and we'll all get OT for coming in to work.:)
I approve of slanderous behavior, Sling, and will not hold you liable or sue you for libel. :-)
I don't know how the day stuck smack-dab in the middle of the week came to be known as the hump, but there you have it.:)
I don't like the Julian calendar, Julian Lennon, or even Julian fries for that matter.
Come to think of it, I can't stand the Gregorian calendar, and Gregorian Chants really bite the big one.
And don't even get me started on Franciscan monks and Dominican nuns.
And wait a minute. I thought the days of the week were named after "Days of the Week" panties. Except for Sunday, which is loosely borrowed from another guilty pleasure.
WOW Serena!!
A veritable 'font' of info...
Have you been hanging around Mr. Knowitall a little too much?
Right now, I am wearing some red and gray wool-blend socks, a pr of Boxers, and an Orange County Chopper T-Shirt..
Hehehehe...
I always loved the word...
Dimanche
Have a great evening!!
xoxoxbgxoxox
I don't know, Puggy -- Gregorian chants can be kind of sexy if the lighting is right and the planets are lined up just so. I must say, I think I'm more scared of Dominican nuns than Franciscan monks.:-)
You're quite right about the actual origin of the names of the days of the week, but there was a vast rightist conspiracy that didn't want that to get out.:)
Why, yes, Galen, I do pick up little nuggets of info from Mr. Knowitall every now and then. See? I ain't brain-dead -- except on even-numbered days.:)
Single-digit temps. No pants. Hmmm. {scratches head} Thanks, I think I WILL have a great evening. Warm, too, thanks to plush robes and fuzzy slippers.:)
Today I was wearing - black wool slacks, brown heels, and a fantastic empire-waist brown sweater. I felt cute.
every bith - a gangsta who lisps, talking about how he's going to take care of each one of his girls
plagerizing - when one tries to turn one's apartment into a beach
infingement - one who has been cursed and has grown fins
gaurd dog - a hollow dog that grows on a vine
no way which I can be held libel - there is no way you can catch me for calling you a low-down, dirty, IRS-cheating rat.
...Sorry. These were not superb!
Pants..? We don't need no stinking pants!!!
What we've got here..
is a failure...To wear your pants!!
Just go to the window and yell..We're mad as hell, and we aren't gonna wear pants anymore!!
You see Sherry, these famous movie lines inspired me to follow their advice..
So I was kinda brainwashed...
Please don't think I'm strange...
I'm trying to stay away from the effect that Cinema has on me...
So I took up reading. I'm reading a book about a guy that sleeps on his porch year round!!
I hope that shit don't rub off..xoxbgxoxox
Rub off?..hehehehe
Greeny, I'll bet you WERE cute! I love those empire-waist sweaters. I like black and brown together, too. Babe, are you kidding? Those definitions most certainly ARE superb!:)
Galen, I know you don't NEED no stinkin' pants, but dang, don't your legs get cold?! Nah, I don't think you're all that strange. You know what they say, after all, about it taking one to know one.:) I know a guy who sleeps on his porch all year round. Ain't that some shit?!:-)
What, you rubbing off on me? You think?:-)
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