Origins of the Days of the Week
& their Correspondances
Monday's child is fair of face,
Tuesday's child is full of grace,
Wednesday's child is full of woe,
Thursday's child has far to go,
Friday's child is loving and giving,
Saturday's child works hard for a living,
But the child that works hard on the Sabbath Day,
is blithe and bonny, good and gay
The names of the days are in some cases derived from Teutonic deities or, such as in Romance languages, from Roman deities. The early Romans, around the first century, used Saturday as the first day of the week. As the worshipping of the Sun increased, the Sun's day (Sunday) advanced from position of the second day to the first day of the week (and saturday became the seventh day). German and English use Teutonic, not Scandinavian forms of the God names, e.g., "Woden" in "Wednesday," not "Odin," which is the Norse equivalent. The God of Tuesday was Tiw.
The First Day:
SUNDAY
Sunday was named after the Sun god; Ra, Helios, Apollo, Ogmios, Mithrias. From prehistoric times to the close of the fifth century of the Christian era, the worship of the sun was dominant.
In the year 321, Constantine the Great ruled that the first day of the week, 'the venerable day of the sun', should be a day of rest. The sun's old association with the first day is responsible for the fact that the Lord's Day of Christianity bears the pagan name of Sunday.
Greek: hemera heli(o)u (hemera=day)
French: Dimanche
Latin: Dies Solis, (Sun's day)
Dominica (Latin), the Day of God.
Italian: domenica
Spanish: domingo
German: Sonntag (sun-day)
Dutch: zondag. (sun-day)
Swedish: söndag
Portuguese: domingo (Lord)
Metal: gold, as dedicated in the symbols of alchemy
Rules: success, ambition, career, sports, healing, money, power, ego
Astrological sign: Leo
Planet: Sun
Color: Gold, Orange
Herbs: Acacia, Arabic gum, Bay, Benzoin, Carnation, Cedarwood, Cinnamon, Citron, Copal,
Frankincense, Juniper, Mastic gum, Oak, Orange, Rosemary, Sandalwood, Tangerine, Wood Aloe.
The Second Day:
MONDAY
Monday was named after the moon Goddess, Selene, Luna and Mani.
Derived from Lunae Dies, day of the moon, the name reflects the ancient observance of feast days dedicated to moon goddess or planet.
Greek: hemera selenes
French: Lundi
Latin: Dies Lunae, (Moon day)
Italian: lunedi.
Spanish: lunes. from Luna, "Moon"
German: Montag. 'moon-day'
Dutch: maandag. 'moon-day'
Swedish: måndag
Portuguese: segunda-feira (2nd feria)
Metal: silver, dedicated to the moon
Rules: psychic powers, emotions, home, childbirth, feminine qualities
Astrological sign: Cancer
Planet: Moon
Color: Silver, White
Herbs: Calamus, Camphor, Coconut, Gardenia, Grape, Jasmine, Lemon, Lemon Balm, Lotus, Myrrh, Poppyseed, Sandalwood, Willow.
The Third Day:
TUESDAY
Tuesday was named after the god Tyr. Tiw's day is derived from Tyr or Tir, the god of honorable war, the wrestler and the son of Wodin and, or Oden, the Norse god of war and Frigga, the earth mother. His emblem is the sword.... also named from the Saxon deity Tuisto, Tiu or Tuesco. Mars is the planet assigned to Tuesday. In Greece, the planet and god were known as Ares. In the Roman Empire, however, Ares became Mars.
Greek: hemera Areos
French: Mardi
Latin: Dies Martis, (Mars day)
Roman: dies Martis, the day of Mars
Italian: martedi
Spanish: martes.
German: Dienstag (meaning "Assembly Day")
Netherlands: dinsdag
Dutch: tirsdag
Swedish: tisdag
Portuguese: terça-feira (3rd feria)
Metal: iron, dedicated to Mars and interpreted as his spear and shield
Rules: courage, war, action, sexuality, masculine qualities
Astrological sign: Aries
Planet: Mars
Color: Red
Herbs: Allspice, Asafoetida, Basil, Broom, Coriander, Cumin, Deerstongue, Dragon's Blood, Galangal, Ginger, Nettle, Peppermint, Pine, Tobacco, Woodruff, Wormwood.
The Fourth Day:
WEDNESDAY
The name Wednesday is derived from the Scandinavian Woden, or Odin, chief god of Norse
mythology & war, who was often called the All Father. Wednesday is ruled by the planet Mercury.
In Greece, Mercury was represented by Hermes, the quick-footed messenger of the gods, often pictured with wings at his ankles. Hermes was symbolized by the caduceus, the staff of the two snakes . The god in the Roman empire was named Mercury, he was the god of merchants, but also of thieves. The staff of the snakes in Rome became a symbol for trade and communications.
Greek: hemera Hermu
French: Mercredi
Latin: Dies Mercurii, (Mercury's day)
Italian: mercoledi
Spanish: miércoles.
German: Mittwoch
Dutch: woensdag
Swedish: onsdag
Portuguese: quarta-feira (4th feria)
Metal: Quicksilver, a liquid mercury that contains amounts of the platinum group metals, has been interpreted as the caduceus of the Greek Hermes (Mercury in Roman myth), and is therefore an attribute of Wednesday.
Rules: communication, education, mental agility, writing, symbolism, travel
Astrological sign: Gemini & Virgo
Planet: Mercury
Color: Blue, Yellow
Herbs: Almond, Bergamot mint, Caraway, Dill, Fennel, Lavendar, Lemongrass, Lemon Verbena, Peppermint, Thyme.
The Fifth Day:
THURSDAY
Named after Thor, the Scandinavian deity. To the Romans, Thursday was dies Jovis, Jupiters day. It derives its name from the Middle English Thoresday, or Thursdaye, corresponding to the Roman dies Jovis.
Thor, the god of strength and thunder, defender and help in war, son of Odin, is the counterpart of Jupiter or Jove. Thor is one of the twelve great gods of northern mythology. He is the only god who cannot cross from earth to heaven upon the rainbow, for he is so heavy and powerful that the gods fear it will break under his weight. It was said that whenever Thor threw his hammer, the noise of thunder is heard through the heavens. Jupiter is the ruler and protector of the home and the family life. On a higher level he is the protector and ruler of the state and the established society.
Greek: hemera Dios
French: Jeudi
Latin: Dies Jovis (Jove's Day), after Jove or Jupiter
Italian: giovedi
Spanish: el jueves.
German: Donnerstag
Dutch: donderdag.
Swedish: torsdag
Portuguese: quinta-feira (5th feria)
Metal: tin, associated with the thunderbolt of Jupiter (Zeus in Greek myth)
Rules: expansion, wealth, establishment, the society, institutionalized religion, authorities, and enlightened government, law, business, insurance matters
Astrological sign: Sagittarius
Planet: Jupiter
Color: Purple, Green
Herbs: Anise, Cinquefoil, Clove, Honeysuckle, Hyssop, Maple, Nutmeg, Oakmoss, Sage, Sarsaparilla, Sassafrass, Star Anise
The Sixth Day:
FRIDAY
Named after the Goddess, Frigga or Freya, the wife of Odin or Woden. Frigga/Freya is considered to be the mother of all, and the goddess who presides over marriage. The name means loving or beloved. Friday is ruled by the planet Venus. Freja, is the fertility goddess in the Nordic countries. In Greece the planet Venus was associated with Aphrodite and Athena. In the Roman Empire it was associated with the Goddess Venus, and in the Phoenician Empire with Astarte. Earlier, in the Euphrates-Tigris region, it was associated with Inanna (later Ischtar).It is the Mohammedan Sabbath, a general abstinence day of the Roman Catholic Church, and according to popular superstition, an unlucky day, even more if the 13th day of any month falls on it. But, personally I don't believe that because Friday the 13th has always been lucky for me ;)
Greek: hemera Aphrodites
French: Vendredi
Latin: Dies Veneris, (Venus's Day)
Italian: venerdi
Spanish: viernes.
German: Freitag
Dutch: vrijdag.
Swedish: fredag
Portuguese: sexta-feira (6th feria)
Metal: copper, dedicated to Venus
Rules: love, beauty, music, the arts, the environment
Astrological sign: Libra & Taurus
Planet: Venus
Color: Pink, Green
Herbs: Apple Blossum, Cardomom, Crocus, Daisy, Geranium (rose), Heather, Hyacinth, Iris, Licorice, Lilac, Magnolia, Myrtle, Orchid, Orris, Plumeria, Rose, Spearmint, Stephanotis, Sweet Pea, Tansy, Thyme, Tonka, Tuberose, Vanilla, Violet, Willow, Ylang Ylang.
The Seventh Day:
SATURDAY
The Jewish Sabbath. The name is derived from the planet Saturn, corresponding to the Roman
diety Saturni or Saturnus; or day of Saturn, the Roman god of agriculture. He was also a
benefactor of humankind, a promoter of prosperity, and good manners and customs. He seems to have been portrayed as an old man with a sickle and a pruning knife in his hands.
Saturday is also represented by Loki, the Norse god of tricks and chaos.
Greek: hemera Khronu
French: Samedi
Latin: dies Saturni, (Saturn's Day)
Italian: sabato
Spanish: el sábádo.
German: Samstag
Dutch: zaterdag.
Swedish: Lördag (wash day)
Portuguese: sábado (Sabbath)
Metal: lead; associated with the scythe of Saturn
Rules: Karma, restriction, property, inheritance, agriculture
Astrological sign: Capricorn
Planet: Saturn
Color: Brown, Dark Green, Black
Herbs: Amaranth, Bistort, Comfrey, Cypress, Mimosa, Pansy, Patchouly, Tamarisk.
**Herbs taken from one of Scott Cunningham's books on herbs from the planetary herb
correspondances**
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