Wednesday facts for kids

In some countries, like the United States of America, Wednesday is the fourth day of the week. In other parts of the world, Wednesday is seen as the third day of the week. It often feels like the middle of the work or school week.

Where Did the Name Wednesday Come From?

Wednesday gets its name from an old Norse god named Woden. Woden is another name for Odin, who was a very important god in Norse mythology. He was known as the god of wisdom, war, poetry, and magic. So, Wednesday means "Woden's day."

This is similar to how other days of the week are named after gods or planets. For example, Thursday is "Thor's day," and Friday is "Freya's day."

Wednesday Around the World

The way we count the days of the week can be different depending on where you live.

• In places like the United States, Canada, and Japan, Sunday is usually considered the first day of the week. This makes Wednesday the fourth day.
• However, in many European countries, Monday is seen as the first day of the week. In these places, Wednesday is the third day.

No matter how it's counted, Wednesday is often called "hump day." This means you've made it over the "hump" or middle part of the week, and the weekend is getting closer!

Special Wednesdays

Sometimes, certain Wednesdays have special meaning. One example is Ash Wednesday. This is a religious day for many Christians around the world. It marks the start of a period called Lent, which is a time of reflection and preparation before Easter. On Ash Wednesday, people might go to church and receive ashes on their foreheads in the shape of a cross.

Images for kids

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  The imposition of ashes on Ash Wednesday

See also

In Spanish: Miércoles para niños