The Origin of the Names of the Days of the Week in Spanish

Have you ever wondered why the days of the week in Spanish are called lunes, martes, miércoles, jueves, viernes, sábado, and domingo? In this article, we will explore the fascinating history and etymology of these words, and how they are connected to astronomy, mythology, and religion.

The Planetary Connection

The names of the five weekdays in Spanish (lunes, martes, miércoles, jueves, and viernes) all come from the names of the classical planets, i.e. planets that can be seen by the naked eye, plus the Sun, plus the Moon. These are the same planets that gave rise to the names of the days of the week in English (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday), although the English names are derived from Germanic and Norse mythology, while the Spanish names are derived from Roman mythology.

The Romans saw a connection between their gods and the changing face of the nighttime sky, so it became natural to use their gods’ names for the planets. The planets that they could easily see from Earth were the Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. The Moon (in Spanish Luna) was the goddess of the moon, Mars (Marte) was the god of war, due to its red color, similar to blood, Mercury (Mercurio) was the god of trade, messenger to the gods, and the closest planet to the sun, Jupiter (Júpiter) or Zeus was the father of the gods, Venus (Venus) or Aphrodite was the goddess of beauty and love, due to being the brightest planet, and Saturn (Saturno) was the god of time.

When the concept of the seven-day week was imported from Mesopotamian culture early in the fourth century, the Romans used those astronomical names for the days of the week. The first day of the week was named after the Sun (in Spanish Sol), followed by the Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, and Saturn. The names of the week were adopted with little change throughout most of the Roman Empire and beyond. In Spanish, the five weekdays all retained their planetary names. Those are the five days whose names end in -es, a shortening of the Latin word for “day”, dies. Lunes comes from the word for “moon”, luna in Spanish, and the planetary connection with Mars is also apparent with martes. The same is true with Mercury/miércoles, and Venus is viernes, meaning “Friday”. The connection with Jupiter is not quite so apparent with jueves unless you know Roman mythology and recall that “Jove” is another name for Jupiter in Latin.

The Religious Influence

The names for the weekend days, Saturday and Sunday, were not adopted using the Roman naming pattern. Domingo comes from a Latin word meaning “Lord’s day”. And sábado comes from the Hebrew word “sabbath”, meaning a day of rest. In Jewish and Christian tradition, God rested on the seventh day of creation.

The word domingo also has an interesting history. At first, the seventh day of the week was dedicated to the Sun, but with time it ended up meaning “day of God”, or “Dominicus” in Latin. It is no coincidence either that the word for Sunday has a connection to the sun and Jesus. Legends say that the Roman emperor Constantine worshipped the god of the sun, but one day had a dream that he saw a cross inside the sun with the inscription “By this symbol you will conquer”. From that moment on, he declared himself a Christian and dedicated Sunday as "the day of the Lord".

The Grammar Rules

In Spanish, the names of the week are all masculine nouns, and they are not capitalized except at the beginning of a sentence. Thus it is common to refer to the days as el domingo, el lunes, and so on. For the five weekdays, the names are the same in singular and plural. For example, el lunes means “Monday” or “on Monday”, and los lunes means “Mondays” or “on Mondays”. For sábado and domingo, the plural forms are sábados and domingos, respectively.

The Cultural Aspects

The days of the week in Spanish also have some cultural and social implications. For example, some common expressions and proverbs use the names of the days to convey different meanings. Here are some examples:

• Lunes al sol: Literally, “Monday in the sun”. It means to be unemployed or to have nothing to do.

• Martes 13: Literally, “Tuesday 13”. It is considered an unlucky day, similar to Friday 13 in some cultures.

• Miércoles de ceniza: Literally, “Ash Wednesday”. It is the first day of Lent, a period of fasting and penitence in Christianity.

• Jueves Santo: Literally, “Holy Thursday”. It is the day before Good Friday, when Jesus had his last supper with his disciples.

• Viernes negro: Literally, “Black Friday”. It is the day after Thanksgiving, when many stores offer discounts and sales.

• Sábado de Gloria: Literally, “Saturday of Glory”. It is the day before Easter Sunday, when Jesus was in the tomb.

• Domingo de Ramos: Literally, “Palm Sunday”. It is the Sunday before Easter, when Jesus entered Jerusalem and was welcomed by the people with palm branches.

The Conclusion

The names of the days of the week in Spanish are not just random words, but they have a rich and fascinating history behind them. They reflect the influence of astronomy, mythology, religion, and culture on the Spanish language and people. Learning the origin and meaning of these words can help you appreciate the language more and expand your vocabulary and knowledge. We hope you enjoyed this article and learned something new and interesting about the days of the week in Spanish. ¡Hasta la próxima! (See you next time!)

Questions:

1. What is the origin of the names of the days of the week in Spanish?

2. How do these names relate to Spanish history and culture?

3. What significance do these names have in understanding the Spanish language?

Spanish Word:

• Título: A Spanish word related to the topic is “título,” which means “title” in English. It refers to the heading or the name given to something, such as an article, book, or document.

Activity:

• Create a Web Page: Students can design a web page that explores the origin and meaning of the days of the week in Spanish. They can include historical context, cultural significance, and any related myths or stories. This activity will help students apply their knowledge creatively and enhance their web design skills.