2006-06-18 23:12:11 · 5 answers · asked by fancy 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Other - Science
In Europe during the Dark Ages, when christianity kept everyone ignorant, Sunday was the "sabbath day" (or "black sabbath day" in the Dark Ages...) where people would "rest".
In reality, Sundays were never a day off during the feudal age because local warlords would force the peasants to practice for war. It wasn't until the Renaissance when professional (paid) armies became the order of the day that such practices came to an end and Sunday truly was a "day of rest".
Six day workweeks were common until the late 19th century when labour unions in Canada fought for the right to a five day workweek. (This is also at the end of the Industrial Revolution when employers no longer treated workers as meat for their machines and "satanic mills".) The idea of a "weekend" spread across Canada, the US and Europe, becoming the standard. Since then we have had two day weekends and "Labour Day" once per year.
Worldwide, six day workweeks are still commonplace and expected, especially in Asia. It's only in the last 20 years that the Japanese, Koreans and Chinese are waking up to the value of R&R.
2006-06-18 23:24:41 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Long before Christians the Jews celebrated the Sabbath because God said so. Then the factories came then the unions came and the strong armed unions worked with the church to get the Sabbatth off and the day before that this way people didn't fall asleep in the house of God.
Different countries have different weekends some still don't.
2006-06-20 04:16:41 · answer #2 · answered by Man 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
God did. When he rested on the final day of creation.
2006-06-19 07:37:31 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't know, but I would sure like to shake their hand.
2006-06-20 14:48:13 · answer #4 · answered by woodybmi 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
hey!!!
not me...
2006-06-20 13:00:51 · answer #5 · answered by maya 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋