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The week of seven days was adopted in Rome somewhereabout 400 AD, and spread into Europe, but had beenrecognized as a period of time long before that in the east. Itwas probably chosen to give one day each to each of theseven planets known in antiquity. In the southern countriesof Europe, the days of the week were named after the gods ofthe Greeks and Romans. In the English language, as well asin the languages of some of the countries of northern Europe,the gods of the north have given their names to the days.The Ashanti and some other peoples of West Africa gave achild a special name according to the day of the week onwhich he was born. The habit was brought to the AmericanSouth and Caribbean through slavery, where names such asQuashee (Sunday), Cudjo (Monday) and Cufee (Friday)were common.

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, goodandgay

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Sunday is the first day of the week.From prehistoric times to the close of the fifth century of theChristian era, the worship of the sun was dominant.Sunday celebrates the sun god, Ra, Helios, Apollo, Ogmios,Mithrias, the sun goddess, Phoebe.The metal gold, as dedicated in the symbols of alchemy, isassociated with the sun god and Sunday.In the year 321, Constantine the Great ruled that the first dayof the week, 'the venerable day of the sun', should be a dayof rest.

The sun's old association with the first day is responsible forthe fact that the Lord's Day of Christianity bears the paganname of Sunday.

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L " ~,'".1' 1"~' 1-,>~Monday is the second day of the week.

Monday is the day of moon goddess, Selene, Luna and Mani.Derived from Lunae Dies, day of the moon, the namereflects the ancient observance of feast days dedicated tomoon goddess or planet.The metal silver, dedicated to the moon, is associated withMonday.

Tuesday is the third day of the week.In the Roman calendar the corresponding day was dies

Martis, the day of Mars, associated with Ares. Tiw's day isderived from Tyr or Tir, the god of honorable war, thewrestler and the son of Odin and, or Woden, the Norse godof war and Frigga, the earth mother. His emblem is thesword, and in olden days the people paid him great homage.Tuesday was named in his honor.The metal iron, dedicated to Mars and interpreted as hisspear and shield, is an attribute of Tuesday.

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~-~Wednesday is the fourth day of the week.

Wednesday corresponds to the Roman Dies Mercurii. Thename derives from the Scandinavian Woden (Odin), chiefgod of Norse mythology, who was often called the AllFather.

Quicksilver, a liquid mercury that contains amounts of theplatinum group metals, has been interpreted as the caduceusof the Greek Hermes (Mercury in Roman myth), and istherefore an attribute of Wednesday.

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I am tlte Thunderer!Here in my Northland,

My fastness andfortress,Reign Iforever!

--Henry WadsworthLongfellow

Thursday is the fifth day of the week.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 inwar, son of Odin, is the counterpart of Jupiter or Jove. Thoris one of the twelve great gods of northern mythology. He isthe only god who cannot cross from earth to heaven upon therainbow, for he is so heavy and powerful that the gods fear itwill break under his weight. It was said that whenever Thorthrew his hammer, the noise of thunder is heard through theheavens. Thursday was sacred to Thor.The metal tin is associated with the thunderbolt of Jupiter(Zeus in Greek myth) and is an attribute of Thursday.

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Friday is the sixth day of the week.The name is derived from the Germanic Frigga the name ofthe Norse god Odin's wife. Frigga is considered to be themother of all, and the goddess who presides over marriage.The name means loving or beloved.

The corresponding Latin name is Dies Veneris, a daydedicated to Venus, the goddess of love.The metal copper, dedicated to Venus, is associated withFriday.

Saturday is the seventh day of the week, corresponding to theRoman dies Saturni, or day of Saturn, the Roman god ofagriculture.Saturday is also represented by Loki, the Norse god of tricksand chaos.The metal lead is associated with the scythe of Saturn, and istherefore an attribute of Saturday.