Online Encyclopedia
Sunday
Sunday is the day of the week between Saturday and Monday. It gets its name from Sunne, the Saxon Sun god, or Sunna the Scandinavian Sun goddess.
Sunday is sometimes held to be the last day of the week (especially in modern Europe and South America - except Brazil), and sometimes the first day (a traditional view derived from ancient Jews and ancient Egyptians).
In the Gregorian calendar, no century can start on a Sunday. In the Hebrew calendar, no year can start on a Sunday.
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 popular rhyme, "The child born on Sunday is fair and wise and good and gay".
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.
Any month beginning on a Sunday will contain a Friday the 13th.
Sunday is the second day of the weekend and is a holiday in lands of Christian tradition, the day Christians most commonly attend church.
In the United States, professional football is usually played on Sunday, although Saturday and Monday (via Monday Night Football) also see a 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.
Many American television networks and stations also broadcast their political interview shows on Sunday mornings.
Many American newspapers publish a larger edition on Sundays, which often includes color comic strips and a coupon section.
Named days
- Low Sunday, first Sunday after Easter, is also known as White Sunday, Quasimodo Sunday, Alb Sunday, and Antipascha 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
See also
External links
- Where Sunday Got Its Name http://www.indepthinfo.com/weekdays/sunday.shtml