The question of “What Day Is The First Of The Week” isn’t as straightforward as it might seem. Globally, there’s a fascinating split in practice and preference. While roughly 44% of the world’s population considers Monday the start of the week, a slightly larger 55% begin their week on Sunday. This difference stems from a mix of cultural, historical, religious, and even economic factors.
A World Divided: Sunday vs. Monday
The Gregorian calendar, the most widely used civil calendar, doesn’t inherently define the first day of the week. The decision largely depends on geographical location and cultural norms.
- Sunday: Approximately 67 countries, representing over 4 billion people, recognize Sunday as the first day.
- Monday: Around 160 countries, encompassing roughly 3.3 billion people, consider Monday the start of the week.
This results in a near 50/50 split in terms of population. In the Americas, Sunday is generally considered the first day of the week. Europe and Oceania overwhelmingly favor Monday. Africa and Asia are more divided, with a mix of countries adhering to either Sunday or Monday.
Global map showing the distribution of countries that start the week on Sunday versus Monday.
It’s also important to note that some countries, like Afghanistan, Iran, and Somalia, buck the trend entirely and begin their week on Saturday.
The Historical Roots of Sunday as the First Day
The practice of starting the week on Sunday dates back thousands of years. The names of the days of the week are linked to celestial bodies, and Sunday is named after the Sun.
Our understanding of this originates from the Babylonians, about 5800 years ago. The Babylonians had a 7-day week, starting with the day of the Sun. The Greeks adopted this system, renaming the days after their gods, with Helios (the Sun god) representing the first day. The Romans, in turn, adopted the Greek system, naming their first day dies solis, also dedicated to the Sun.
When the Roman Empire spread through Europe, Germanic tribes like the Saxons adopted the Roman week. Dies solis evolved into Sunnandæg, which eventually became Sunday in English.
The sun, a symbol of light and life, lends its name to Sunday, historically the first day of the week.
The Influence of Religion: Sabbath and the Christian Sunday
The rise of Christianity further solidified Sunday’s position as the first day for many. The biblical account of creation describes God resting on the seventh day, leading to the concept of the Sabbath. In Judaism, the Sabbath (Shabbat) falls on Saturday, followed by Yom Rishon, the “first day.”
Early Christians, seeking to differentiate themselves from Jewish tradition, began worshipping on a different day. This shift was solidified when Christianity became the state religion of the Roman Empire in 321 CE under Emperor Constantine, officially establishing Sunday as the Christian day of worship, also known as the Lord’s Day.
Religious significance has long been associated with the sun and the day dedicated to it, influencing the perception of Sunday as the first day of the week.
The Rise of Monday: The Modern Work Week
So, how did Monday come to be recognized as the first day in many parts of the world? The answer lies in the evolution of the modern work week.
For centuries, people typically worked six days a week, with Sunday reserved for religious observance. However, the concept of the “weekend” emerged in the 20th century. In 1926, Henry Ford famously began giving his employees two days off: Saturday and Sunday. This innovation, coupled with studies showing increased productivity, led to the widespread adoption of the five-day work week.
With the introduction of the weekend, the work week became the primary unit of time measurement, shifting the focus from religious observance to economic activity. As a result, Monday became the logical starting point of the week.
Henry Ford’s introduction of the two-day weekend played a significant role in the shift towards Monday as the beginning of the work week.
ISO 8601: Setting the Standard
The shift from Sunday to Monday as the official start of the week was formalized in 1988 with the international standard ISO 8601. This standard, developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), defines Monday as the first day of the week.
ISO 8601 has been adopted by virtually all European countries and many other countries worldwide that have updated their calendars more recently.
The Saturday Alternative: A Different Perspective
While Sunday and Monday are the most common starting days, Saturday holds this position in countries like Iran, Afghanistan, and Somalia. This is often tied to religious practices, with Friday being the day of prayer for Muslims.
In some cultures, religious practices dictate the weekend and, consequently, the first day of the week.
Historically, many Muslim-majority countries had their weekend on Thursday and Friday, starting the week on Saturday. However, since 2000, many of these countries have shifted their weekend to Friday and Saturday, starting their work week on Sunday.
Conclusion
The question of “what day is the first of the week” is a complex one, shaped by history, culture, religion, and economics. While Sunday holds historical significance and remains the starting day for many, the modern work week and international standards have propelled Monday to the forefront in many parts of the world. Ultimately, the “correct” answer depends on where you are and the cultural norms you adhere to.
