Monday

Monday is a specific day of the week that falls between Sunday and Tuesday. Its position in the week depends on which system of measurement is being used. In North America, Sunday is commonly viewed as the first day. However, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO 8601) designates Monday as the first day of the week. This standard is based in Geneva. In China, the term xīngqīyī refers to Monday, which literally means "day one of the week." This demonstrates how different cultures organize the sequence of time.

The names for Monday across many languages are deeply connected to the Moon. In the Roman era, the day was called diēs Lūnae, or "day of the Moon." The English noun Monday developed from Old English terms like mōnandæg, which meant "moon's day." This lunar connection appears in many other Germanic languages. For instance, modern German uses Montag, and modern Dutch uses Maandag. Similarly, Japanese and Korean use ancient Chinese characters, 月曜日 and 월요일, which also mean "day of the moon." In Indo-Aryan languages, the terms Somavāra or Chandravāra serve as Sanskrit loan-translations for the Moon.

Some cultures use "ecclesiastical" names for the day. These are religious naming traditions used to avoid the pagan connotations of planetary or deity names. Instead of using the Moon, these systems use numbers. In these traditions, Monday is often called the "second day." The Catholic Church maintains this custom in its liturgical calendar, referring to Monday as feria secunda. This tradition is also seen in Portuguese, where the day is segunda-feira. The Greek Eastern Orthodox Church uses the term Δευτέρα (deutéra), which also means "second." Even in Vietnamese, the day is referred to as thứ Hai, or "Second Day."

Monday holds significant importance in several major world religions. In Islam, it is a day when Muslims are encouraged to perform voluntary fasting. This practice is linked to the Prophet Muhammad, who was born on a Monday and received his first revelation on a Monday. In Hinduism, the day is associated with the moon god Chandra, or Soma. Many Hindus fast on Mondays to show dedication to the god Shiva. Some perform the Solah Somvar Vrat, a fast lasting sixteen Mondays, to find a suitable marriage partner. Fasting during the Hindu month of Shravana is also considered very auspicious.

Other religious traditions also observe specific customs on this day. In Judaism, Monday is considered an auspicious day for fasting. It is also a day when a portion of the weekly Parashah from the Torah is read in public. This practice began because Monday and Thursday were historically "market days" when people gathered in cities. In the Eastern Orthodox Church, Mondays are dedicated to the commemoration of angels. In many Eastern monasteries, monks observe Monday as a fast day to strive for an angelic life. They may abstain from meat, fowl, dairy, fish, wine, and oil.

In modern Western culture, Monday often carries a reputation for being difficult. Many popular songs portray the day as a time of melancholy, anxiety, or boredom. Examples include "Manic Monday" by the Bangles and "Rainy Days and Mondays" by the Carpenters. The famous comic strip character Garfield is well known for his catchphrase, "I hate Mondays." This sentiment is reflected in various statistics. In the United Kingdom, more people call in sick on Mondays than on other days. Additionally, Guinness World Records officially named Monday the "Worst Day of the Week" in 2022.

There are also surprising scientific and social observations regarding this day. Research presented at a British Cardiovascular Society conference in Manchester indicated that serious heart attacks are more likely to occur on a Monday. In the United Kingdom, data shows that more people commit suicide in England and Wales on Mondays than on any other day. Socially, Mondays were historically associated with chores, such as washing clothes. A 1907 postcard titled "Monday Morning in N. Y. City" reflects this tradition. Even in the business world, the name has been used for branding, such as when the firm PricewaterhouseCoopers briefly named a practice "Monday."