So what DO you call the days?

Question

Sunday= Sun
Monday= Moon
Tuesday= Tew (Norse god, also called Tir)
Wednesday= Woden or Oden
Thursday= Thor
Friday= Freya
Saturday= Saturn

I've heard some Christians don't celebrate Easter because it's a celebration of the Goddess Eostre, or Halloween because it's Samhain, or Christmas because it's Yule. I can understand not wanting to participate in pagan celebrations when it's not your bag. But what do you call the days of the week?

Or the months, for that matter (Okay, July through December are all safely secular, but the other ones? Janus, Freya, Mars, Aphrodite, Maya, Juno.)?

Answer 1

Yes, Eostra was the celebration of the Sun Goddess, the dawn, which explains why easter (rising 'sun/son'). When early Christians met many celebrators they adopted the festivals and gave the new Christians another reason to celebrate. Who'd want a religion that didn't think partying was okay (we didn't do that till the dark ages - and we're sorry about that)?

In Latin, rest is 'Sabbatum', the traditional rest day was Friday to Saturday. I think many Christians now celebrate Church on Sunday for no other reason that it is the last day of the 'work' week and therefore a day of rest. It may have also been started to marginalise Jewish people who wanted to rest on Day 6, quite likely, I think. Apologies. We have a weekend now (two days) so that should keep most westerners happy.

It would be interesting to know if we had a seven day week before the Romans and if the seven Teutonic names were whittled down (or 'plumped' up) to coincide with the Judeo-Christian week. There's a whole PHD in that, I think.

The Calendar was imposed by Julius Caesar, hence the Roman names and probably some deference to conquered countries. I would suspect the seasons and names would have had Hebrew names in the Jewish culture.

The Bible only suggests we celebrate one festival, Communion, and the others are just extra fun. I don't mind when Jesus was born, I often don't get to celebrate my birthday on the day either, it's just nice to have it remembered. At least we don't have to put candles on His cake (maybe that's what the tree is for - oh Gawd I'm going to be surfing for information for hours now).

I think you offered enough query to keep me up all night. Cheers. :)

Answer 2

Dimanche,
Lundi,
Mardi,
Mecredi,
Jeudi,
Vendredi,
Samedi.

At least that's what I called them until I was six or so. :-)

As to the Christians getting all uppity and posessive, the word Easter has NO CHRISTIAN meaning... it's not ANYWHERE in the Bible. It has it's origins, etymologically from the Pagan celebration at nearly the same time.
Christmas is the name of the Christian celebration that was placed coincidentally with Winter Solstice. A reading of the Bible will show that Christ wasn't born at this time of year.

Have your celebrations, but please don't claim exclusivity to the DATE. Pagans have been around for much longer, and, typically, we know what it is we are celebrating and when it is we do so. If Christians can explain to me exactly why they celebrate Christmas in December (If not to coincide with the Pagan holiday), I'd be glad to listen. If they can show me exactly why they use the particular astrological calculation to determine the date of Christ's rising, rather than a particular date (I do actually know the reason for this one), I'm willing to entertain that as well.

I don't have a problem with coincident holidays; I just get upset when Christians are saying that Pagans are trying to co-opt their holidays rather than the other way around.

Answer 3

Because the day next to christmas (26th december) is known as the "boxing day." There are many different opinions about the origin of this name, but most agreed one is that in the ancient time the "Box of the church" in which all the funds were collected throughout the year was opened on the day next to christmas... and the money was distributed from the box to the poors on the same day that is why it was named as "Boxing Day." In cricket Australia is the first country to initiate the boxing day test and this match is always played at Melbourne ground against the opponent present at that particular time... now South Africa and New Zealand has also started playing boxing day tests. So that was all about boxing day test match...

Answer 4

you are looking at the present day calendar and marking of days. look at the old calendar and you'll see we actually have 13 months not 12 and each month is actually 28 days long each, not 27 for some, 28 others, 30 others, 31 others.

this mix up of calendars is also why so many misunderstand when the end times are coming or even the Mayan calendar, as they too ran on the 13 month cycle.

Answer 5

Who told you that Easter is a celebration of the goddess Eostre? I've never heard that before! Sounds like BS to me.

Easter is the celebration of Christ rising from the dead.

I kow you are trying to keep an open mind about things, but don't let it get so open that it fills up with trash!

The days of the week are clearly labeled on the calendar if you want to knnow the real names of the days.

I thought I just read a question asking if kids were the hope for the future, I guess you aren't one of them are you?

Answer 6

those are just words to me, and no big deal. When I think of Monday, I don't think of the moon, etc.
I am Christian, and know many Christians. We all celebrate Easter, when we recognize that Christ rose from the dead. We all celebrate Christmas because it is when we recognize His birth. At halloween we have a harvest party, the kids dress up in non-evil costumes, we give out candy, and have hay rides, etc.
Thanks for the information, I had not heard some of that before.

Answer 7

It is much easier to not observe a "holiday" that we do not agree with than to change the days of the week or the months. A name is just a name, but to celebrate something is a personal choice.

Answer 8

As to your question, they will never think up original, christian names for the days of the week or months as they were observed,created and named by astrologers;who were the first astronomers. Astrology is forbidden by their bible.Mr. Right is obviously a fool.

Answer 9

well i am a Christian and we celebrate Easter and Christmas
so you must of heard wrong .
The day of the week are Sunday< Monday < Tuesday> Wednesday > Thursday >Friday .
What else would you call them
May God bless you and have a great day

Answer 10

this is something Ive always found fascinating. ACLU and their ilk demand that we change BC (before Christ) and AD (ano Domini {in the year of our lord}) into BCE and CE, (before common era and Common era). but thorsday and the likewise, well that's not offensive to anyone so we will keep it the same. how is that even logical.

but to answer your question I call them by their proper names Monday, Tuesday, ECT.