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!)
Quiz
Instructions: Answer the following questions in 2-3 sentences each.
- What is the primary source of the names for the five weekdays (lunes-viernes) in Spanish?
- How do the Spanish names for the weekdays differ in their origins compared to the English names?
- Briefly explain the connection between the Roman god Mars and the Spanish name martes.
- What is the etymological root of the Spanish word miércoles, and what is the Roman god it is associated with?
- What is the origin of the Spanish word domingo and what does it signify?
- What is the significance of the word sábado and how does it relate to Jewish and Christian traditions?
- What is the grammatical rule regarding capitalization of the days of the week in Spanish?
- How are the singular and plural forms of the five weekday names used in Spanish?
- Provide a brief explanation of the cultural significance of Martes 13.
- What is the literal meaning and cultural significance of Domingo de Ramos?
Essay Questions
Instructions: Choose one of the following essay questions and write a comprehensive essay using information from the text provided.
- Discuss the influence of Roman mythology and astronomy on the naming of the weekdays in Spanish. How does this reflect the Roman worldview and their connection to the cosmos?
- Compare and contrast the origins of the Spanish and English names for the days of the week. What do these differences reveal about the different cultures and histories that shaped them?
- Analyze the religious transitions that influenced the names of the weekend days in Spanish, from the ancient concept of the sun to the Christian concept of the Lord's day.
- Explore the ways in which the days of the week are used in Spanish culture, beyond simple timekeeping. How are they integrated into proverbs, traditions, and specific cultural events?
- Explain the etymological origins of each of the seven days of the week in Spanish, relating the terms to mythology, religion and planetary concepts.
Glossary
Etymology: The study of the origin of words and the way in which their meanings have changed throughout history.
Classical Planets: The planets that are visible to the naked eye: Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn, as well as the Sun and Moon.
Roman Mythology: The body of traditional stories and religious beliefs of the ancient Romans, including their gods and goddesses.
Dies: Latin word meaning "day".
Mesopotamian Culture: An ancient civilization located in the region of modern-day Iraq, known for its advanced astronomical knowledge.
Sabbath: A day of rest or religious observance, especially in Judaism and some Christian traditions. Dominicus: Latin for "Lord's day".
Lent: A period of fasting and penitence observed by many Christians.
Holy Week: The week before Easter in the Christian tradition, which commemorates the events leading up to the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Masculine Noun: A noun that has masculine grammatical gender in Spanish.
Ash Wednesday: The first day of Lent in Western Christianity, marked by repentance and reflection.
Proverbs: A short, well-known saying that expresses a common truth or experience.
Etymological: Relating to the origin and history of words.
Comments
Post a Comment