Sunday etymology

Etymology

The word "Sunday" has its origins in Old English:

  • Sunnandæg (c. 700 CE)
  • Sunnandæg (c. 1000 CE), contracted to Sonday (c. 1150 CE)

Meaning and Origin

The name "Sunday" comes from the concept of "sun's day." It originally referred to the first day of the week, which was associated with the sun in many cultures. In Germanic mythology, the sun was personified as a deity named Sunna.

In Christianity

Christianity adopted the seven-day week from the Jewish tradition. However, it assigned different names to the days based on religious figures and events. Sunday became known as the "Lord's Day" (Latin: Dies Dominica) in honor of the resurrection of Jesus Christ on the first day of the week.

In Paganism

In many pagan traditions, Sunday was a day associated with the sun and its deities. In Roman mythology, it was Sunday (Latin: Dies Solis) and was sacred to Apollo, the god of the sun. In Norse mythology, it was Sunnadagr and linked to the goddess Sunna.

Other Names for Sunday

In different languages and cultures, Sunday is known by various other names:

  • Domingo (Spanish)
  • Sonntag (German)
  • Domenica (Italian)
  • Dimanche (French)
  • ** Κυριακή** (Kyriakī, Greek)

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