Who do we have to thank for inventing the weekend?
2007-07-06 09:42:44 · 13 answers · asked by Ask Mike 4 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
The individual who first used the English word "Weekend" is lost in history. The concept of Weekend is older than the English language.
Originally, there was much controversy over the days of the week. The Julian calendar of the Romans (starting about 45 AD) included the 7 day week and retained Saturday as the last day (a slight change from the Hebrew concept of sundown Friday to sundown Saturday).
The differences between the Day of Rest for Muslims (Friday), Hebrew (usually considered as Saturday) and Christians (Sunday) continued for centuries. The Roman Emperor Constantine decreed in 321 AD, that Sunday (the first day of the week) would be the day of rest. Later, in Christian Europe, Sunday was still the most often observed. The other 6 days were considered the workweek (weekdays).
Most Christians are still confused about the origin of the Sunday observances.
References to 1638 as the first English use of the word "weekend" was really another way of saying Sunday. The concept of Saturday and Sunday combined as a weekend had to wait until almost 1900 and the 5 day work week. Henry Ford was one of the first to push this concept.
From 60 plus hours of work per week to 48 to 40 hours, and now talk of the 32 hour week. Will we see the Weekend lengthen to Friday, Saturday and Sunday in our lifetime?
2007-07-07 03:52:52 · answer #1 · answered by Richard 7 · 10⤊ 1⤋
Coined The Phrase
2016-10-04 01:36:03 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My theory has always been that someone at the end of their work week just happened to say to a fellow co-worker "see ya next week" or "going to the beach will be a great ending to a hell of a work week" and the coined phrase "weekend" for relaxation was born. It's sorta like Monday morning blues after a hell of a binge of drinking all weekend long! I'm 52 and that's what my ex used to say when he'd go back to work on a Monday after partying all Friday, Sat, & resting up Sundays!
"Weekend's over, boys, back to the Monday Morning Blahs and blues!"
bplunkett1
Chesterfield, VA
2007-07-08 09:11:52 · answer #3 · answered by bpgagirl22 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The word weekend was coined in 1638, from week + end. Originally a northern word (referring to the period from Saturday noon to Monday morning); it became general after 1878 in ENGLAND and spread thereon.
As an adjective, meaning "only on weekends," it is recorded from 1935.
I could only find the when, not the WHO :(
2007-07-06 17:36:55 · answer #4 · answered by Som™ 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
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2016-12-16 15:16:29 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The weekend came about so that people may have time to observe their religous/spiritual beliefs. Even the pagans of ancient Rome had a day of rest on the day of the Sun, or Sunday.
Originally, for both Christians and Jews alike, the sabbath was on Saturday. The Catholic church (some say it was by order of Pope Pius V, in 1566 - although this 'fact' is hotly debated) changed the sabbath day for Catholics/Christians from Saturday to Sunday. As you can see below, countries that are not predominately christian or jewish have a different 'weekend'.
"The weekend is a part of the week lasting one or two days in which most paid workers do not work. This is a time for leisure and recreation, and/or for religious activities.
In Christian countries the weekend typically covers Saturday and Sunday, while in Muslim countries it is Friday and Saturday, or Thursday and Friday. In Israel the weekend is typically Friday afternoon and Saturday.
The notion of a weekly rest is ancient; Judeo-Christian religions celebrate a day of rest known as the Sabbath. The Jewish Sabbath is known as Shabbat, and is from sunset Friday to sunset Saturday; the Christian Sabbath is known as the Lord's Day, and is on Sunday; the Muslim Sabbath is on Friday."
In several languages, the word for weekend is an adaptation of weekend or the term "English week" is used for the five-days work week.
2007-07-06 10:17:43 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Hey there Mike,.Martius (March), the Roman month devoted to and named after the god of war, Mars, was so filled with celebrations -- fasti -- that there was a special day in it to rest from the festivities. It wasn't exactly like a month with nothing but weekends. There were happy occasions, but there were also fasts and a day for bloodletting. There was even a parade of pines or palms. If it's beginning to sound slightly familiar, it should. Easter and Lenten activities bear striking similarities with the first month of the (pre-Julian calendar) year -- March. Take a look for yourself.... http://ancienthistory.about.com/od/romancalendars/a/FastiofMarch.htm
2007-07-06 12:04:44 · answer #7 · answered by insenergy 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
^weekend
1638, from week + end. Originally a northern word (referring to the period from Saturday noon to Monday morning); it became general after 1878. As an adj., meaning "only on weekends," it is recorded from 1935.
2007-07-07 08:47:32 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
To coin a phrase.... not a lot of people know this
2016-05-20 00:22:24 · answer #9 · answered by addie 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weekend
2007-07-06 23:02:08 · answer #10 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋