Tuesday is Tiw's day, Wednesday is Woden's day, Thursday is Thor's day and Friday is Frigg's day. These names come from Old English. Germanic peoples took the Roman week, named after the planets and their gods, and swapped in their own gods.
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The swap
Mars became Tiw, Mercury became Woden (Odin), Jupiter became Thor and Venus became Frigg.
The one they kept
Saturday was never swapped. It is still Saturn's day, straight from the Roman name.
Learn
- Seven planets, seven days. The Roman week named its days after the seven wandering lights of the sky: Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus and Saturn.
- Very old roots. Most historians trace the seven-day week back to the Babylonians, about 4,000 years ago. Constantine made it official in Rome in 321 CE.
Test yourself
Which day is named after the god Woden, or Odin?
Wednesday. Wednesday comes from the Old English Wōdnesdæg, Woden's day.
Which English weekday keeps a Roman god's name?
Saturday. Saturday is Saturn's day. The others were swapped for Germanic gods.
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