Week facts for kids
A week is a period of seven days that follow each other. Most years have 52 weeks. Weeks help us organize our time and plan activities.
Contents
The Days of the Week
The names of the days in the English language come from ancient gods and planets. Many of these names come from Norse mythology (stories from northern Europe) and Roman mythology (stories from ancient Rome).
How Days Got Their Names
Most days are named after powerful gods or important celestial bodies like the Sun and Moon. For example, Sunday is named after the Sun, and Monday is named after the Moon.
| English Name | Abbreviation | Named After (Norse Mythology) | Named After (Roman Mythology) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday | Sun. | The Sun | |
| Monday | Mon. | The Moon | |
| Tuesday | Tue. | Tyr, the Norse god of war | Mars, the Roman god of war |
| Wednesday | Wed. | Wodan (also known as Odin), the chief Norse god | Mercury, the Roman messenger god |
| Thursday | Thu. | Thor, the Norse god of thunder | Jupiter, the chief Roman god |
| Friday | Fri. | Freyr (or Frigg), a Norse goddess of love and beauty | Venus, the Roman goddess of love |
| Saturday | Sat. | Saturn, the Roman god of agriculture |
When Does a Week Start?
The first day of the week can be different depending on where you live. In many countries, the week starts on Monday and ends on Sunday. However, in other places, like the United States, the week begins on Sunday and finishes on Saturday.
The Weekend
In most countries, Saturday and Sunday are known as the weekend. These are usually days off from school and work. Some religions also have a special day of rest:
- For Muslims, Friday is a religious day.
- For Jews, Saturday is a religious day.
- For Christians, Sunday is a religious day.
| Days of the Week |
|---|
| Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday |
Images for kids
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An Italian cameo bracelet showing the days of the week with their gods (mid-19th century, Walters Art Museum)
See also
In Spanish: Semana para niños
