Tuesday

Tuesday is a specific day of the week located between Monday and Wednesday. Its numerical position depends on the calendar system being used. Under the international standard ISO 8601, Monday is the first day, making Tuesday the second day. However, many traditional calendars view Sunday as the first day, which places Tuesday third. In certain Muslim countries, Saturday is the first day, meaning Tuesday is actually the fourth day.

The English name for this day has deep roots in ancient mythology. It comes from the Old English word for "Tīw's Day." Tīw is the Old English name for Týr, a god in Norse mythology. Týr was a deity associated with law, justice, and single combat. The name itself likely comes from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to shine." This same root eventually led to the modern English word "deity."

Different cultures have developed unique ways to name this day based on their own traditions. In many languages with Latin origins, such as Italian, French, and Spanish, the day is named after Mars. Mars was the Roman god of war, who was the parallel to the Greek god Ares. In Japanese, the name refers to the planet Mars. In Korean, the word for Tuesday is "fire day." This is because the planet Mars is referred to as the "fire star" in Korea. In the Nahuatl language, the day is known as the "day of Huitzilopochtli."

Religious traditions also assign special meanings and observances to Tuesday. In the Eastern Orthodox Church, Tuesdays are dedicated to Saint John the Baptist. The Octoechos, which is a collection of hymns, includes specific chants for this day. In Hinduism, Tuesday is a popular day for worshipping deities like Hanuman and Kartikeya. Some Hindus also worship Kali, Durga, Parvati, or Ganesha on this day. Many Hindu followers choose to fast on Tuesdays. Some married women observe the Mangala Gauri Vrat, a fasting ritual, every Tuesday during the Hindu month of Shravana.

Cultural attitudes toward Tuesday can range from feeling lucky to feeling unlucky. In Judaism, Tuesday is considered a particularly lucky day. This belief stems from the book of Bereshit, also known as Genesis. In the first chapters of this book, the phrase "it was good" appears twice regarding this day. Conversely, in the Greek and Spanish-speaking worlds, Tuesday is often seen as unlucky. This is because of its association with Mars, the god of war, and the concept of death. For these cultures, the 13th of a month is considered unlucky if it falls on a Tuesday.

In the United States, Tuesday plays a vital role in the democratic process. Federal elections are held on the Tuesday following the first Monday in November. This practice was established by a law in 1845 for presidential elections. The law was later extended to include the House of Representatives in 1875 and the Senate in 1914. Tuesday was chosen because it was the most practical day for polling in the early 19th century. On Sundays, most citizens participated in worship and would not travel to vote. In Australia, Tuesday is also significant for government functions. The federal budget is released on the second Tuesday in May, a practice used since 1994.

Modern technology and commerce also follow Tuesday patterns. In the United States, video games are commonly released on Tuesdays. This trend is often linked to a 1992 marketing campaign for Sonic the Hedgehog 2. DVDs and Blu-rays also typically follow this release schedule. In the world of computing, Microsoft uses the second Tuesday of every month for "Patch Tuesday." This is when the company releases software patches for its products. Some system administrators even refer to this as "Black Tuesday."

Finally, Tuesday appears in many specific social and historical contexts. "Black Tuesday" refers to October 29, 1929, during the great Stock Market Crash in the United States. In the realm of charity, "Giving Tuesday" is a global movement that began in 2012. It takes place on the Tuesday following Black Friday to encourage generosity. There are also unique dates like "Twosday," which was the name given to Tuesday, February 22, 2022. Even in astrology, Tuesday is specifically aligned with the planet Mars and the signs of Aries and Scorpio.