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Sunday is the day of the week between Saturday and Monday, and the second day of the weekend in some cultures. It is considered a holiday in lands of Christian tradition, the day Christians most commonly attend Church.
In the Gregorian calendar, no century can start on a Sunday. In the Hebrew calendar, no year can start on a Sunday. Any month beginning on a Sunday will contain a Friday the 13th.
The name Sunday
In English, Sunday gets its name from Sunna, or Sunne the Germanic sun goddess.
In ancient Jewish tradition Saturday is the sabbath. Many languages lack separate words for "Saturday" and "sabbath". Eastern Orthodox churches distinguish between the sabbath (Saturday) and the Lord's day (Sunday). Roman Catholics put so little emphasis on that distinction that many among them follow — at least in colloquial language — the Protestant practice of calling Sunday the sabbath. Quakers traditionally refer to Sunday as "First Day" eschewing the "pagan" origin of the name.
Position during the week
In many countries, including most of Europe and South America (except Brazil), Sunday is held to be the last day of the week. In others, including the United States, it is seen as the first day, a traditional view derived from ancient Jews, Egyptians and the Holy Roman Empire. ISO 8601 defines Monday as the first day of the week, making Sunday the seventh.
Common Sunday occurrences
Sunday is considered holy among most Christians and often a day of rest and church-attendance. However, from Friday sunset to Saturday sunset is when God made as a holy day of rest, Sabbath.
In orthodox Christian families and communities some activities are not done, e.g. working, doing something that requires somebody else to work such as buying goods or services (including the use of public transport), driving a car, gardening, washing a car, etc. Exceptions which are allowed are making use of religious services, and, usually, using electricity, and urgent medical matters.
In the United States, professional football is usually played on Sunday, although Saturday and Monday (via Monday Night Football) also see some professional games. College football usually occurs on Saturday, and high-school football tends to take place on Friday. It is not uncommon for church attendance to shift on days when a late morning or early afternoon game is anticipated by a local community.
Also in the United States, many federal government buildings are closed on Sunday. Privately owned businesses also tend to close or are open for shorter periods of the day than on other days of the week.
Many American and British television networks and stations also broadcast their political interview shows on Sunday mornings.
Many American and British daily newspapers publish a larger edition on Sundays, which often includes color comic strips, a magazine, and a coupon section.
Named days
- Low Sunday, first Sunday after Easter, is also known as White Sunday, Quasimodo Sunday, Alb Sunday, Antipascha Sunday, and Divine Mercy Sunday.
- Palm Sunday is the Sunday before Easter.
- Passion Sunday, formerly denoting the fifth Sunday of Lent, since 1970 the term applies to the following Sunday also known as Palm Sunday.
- Septuagesima Sunday, before 1970, was the third from the last Sunday before Lent.
- Stir-up Sunday, is the last Sunday before Advent.
- Trinity Sunday is the first Sunday after Pentecost.
- Laetare Sunday
- Gaudete Sunday
- Whitsunday
Quotes
- In the popular rhyme, "The child born on Sunday is fair and wise and good and gay".
See also
External link
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