Wednesday

From WikiMD's medical encyclopedia

NKS 1867 4to, 97v, Odin on Sleipnir
US Navy 080206-N-7869M-057 Electronics Technician 3rd Class Leila Tardieu receives the sacramental ashes during an Ash Wednesday celebration

Wednesday is the day of the week between Tuesday and Thursday. According to international standard ISO 8601, it is the third day of the week. In countries that use the Sunday-first convention, Wednesday is the fourth day of the week. The name "Wednesday" is derived from the Old English Wōdnesdæg and Middle English Wednesdei, meaning "day of Woden", reflecting the pre-Christian religion practiced by the Anglo-Saxons. In other languages, such as the Romance languages, the name is derived from the Latin dies Mercurii, "day of Mercury".

Etymology

The English name for the day, "Wednesday", is derived from the Old English Wōdnesdæg, which literally means "Woden's day". Woden, known in Old Norse as Odin, was a widely revered god in Norse mythology, and his name is reflected in the naming of the day in other Germanic languages, such as Onsdag in Swedish and Odinsdag in Danish.

Cultural Significance

In many cultures, Wednesday is considered the middle of the working week and is often associated with a certain lack of enthusiasm or energy, sometimes referred to as "hump day". However, its significance and customs vary widely across different cultures and religions. For example, in some Christian traditions, Wednesday is observed as a day of fasting and penance.

In astrology, Wednesday is associated with the planet Mercury, which is reflected in languages that derive their name for the day from Latin, such as Mercredi in French and Miércoles in Spanish.

Observances

Certain religious and cultural observances take place on Wednesdays across the world. For instance, in Christianity, Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, a period of fasting and repentance leading up to Easter. In Hinduism, Wednesday is dedicated to Vithoba, a form of the god Krishna, and is considered auspicious for starting new ventures.

In Popular Culture

Wednesday has been personified and featured in various aspects of popular culture. Notably, Wednesday Addams, a character from The Addams Family series, is named after the day, reflecting her dark and macabre personality.

See Also


Stub icon
   This article is a time-related stub. You can help WikiMD by expanding it!



Navigation: Wellness - Encyclopedia - Health topics - Disease Index‏‎ - Drugs - World Directory - Gray's Anatomy - Keto diet - Recipes

Transform your life with W8MD's budget GLP-1 injections from $125.

W8mdlogo.png
W8MD weight loss doctors team

W8MD offers a medical weight loss program to lose weight in Philadelphia. Our physician-supervised medical weight loss provides:

NYC weight loss doctor appointments

Start your NYC weight loss journey today at our NYC medical weight loss and Philadelphia medical weight loss clinics.

Linkedin_Shiny_Icon Facebook_Shiny_Icon YouTube_icon_(2011-2013) Google plus


Advertise on WikiMD

WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia

Let Food Be Thy Medicine
Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates

Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates, categories Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.

Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD