days of the Norse week/ American understanding

The Norse days of the week and what they stand for throughout the world

The names of the days of the week in many languages have their origins in the ancient Norse mythology. The Norse people, also known as Vikings, named the days of the week after their gods and goddesses, as well as the sun and the moon. These names were influenced by the Roman tradition of naming the days of the week after the planets and their gods, which in turn was derived from the Babylonian calendar. The Norse names of the weekdays are still used in some Scandinavian languages, such as Danish, Norwegian and Icelandic, and they have also influenced the English names of the weekdays. Here is a brief overview of the Norse days of the week and what they stand for throughout the world:

- **Sunday**: This is the day of the sun, named after **Sól**, the Norse goddess of the sun. The Latin name for this day was dies Solis, meaning Sol's day. Sol was the Roman god of the sun, equivalent to the Greek god Helios. The sun was considered a source of life and light by many ancient cultures, and it was often worshipped as a deity. In some languages, such as French, Spanish and Italian, Sunday is still called by a variation of dies Solis, such as dimanche, domingo or domenica.

- **Monday**: This is the day of the moon, named after **Mani**, the Norse god of the moon. The Latin name for this day was dies Lunae, meaning Luna's day. Luna was the Roman goddess of the moon, equivalent to the Greek goddess Selene. The moon was also a symbol of fertility, cycles and change in many ancient cultures, and it was often associated with female deities. In some languages, such as French, Spanish and Italian, Monday is still called by a variation of dies Lunae, such as lundi, lunes or lunedì.

- **Tuesday**: This is the day of **Tyr**, the Norse god of war and justice. The Latin name for this day was dies Martis, meaning Mars' day. Mars was the Roman god of war, equivalent to the Greek god Ares. Tyr was one of the oldest and most respected gods in Norse mythology, known for his courage and sacrifice. He lost his hand when he bound the monstrous wolf Fenrir, who would otherwise devour Odin at Ragnarok, the end of the world. In some languages, such as German and Dutch, Tuesday is still called by a variation of dies Martis, such as Dienstag or dinsdag.

- **Wednesday**: This is the day of **Odin**, the Norse god of wisdom, poetry and magic. He was also known as Woden or Wotan in some Germanic languages. The Latin name for this day was dies Mercurii, meaning Mercury's day. Mercury was the Roman god of commerce, communication and travelers, equivalent to the Greek god Hermes. Odin was the chief god in Norse mythology, and he had many roles and attributes. He was the father of Thor and Loki, and he sacrificed one of his eyes to gain knowledge from the well of Mimir. He also hung himself from Yggdrasil, the world tree, for nine days and nights to learn the secrets of runes. He was accompanied by two ravens, Huginn and Muninn, who brought him news from all over the world.

- **Thursday**: This is the day of **Thor**, the Norse god of thunder, lightning and strength. He was also known as Donar or Thunor in some Germanic languages. The Latin name for this day was dies Jovis, meaning Jove's day or Jupiter's day. 

One possible explanation for how Frigg is suggested to being the goddess of Friday is based on the etymology of her name and the name of the weekday. According to some sources, the name "Frigg" is derived from the Proto-Germanic *frijaz, meaning "beloved, dear". The English day of the week "Friday" may be related to the goddess by way of the Old English word Frīġedæġ, meaning "Frigg's day". This suggests that Frigg was honored or worshipped on this day by the ancient Germanic peoples, and that her name was preserved in the modern language.

Another possible explanation is based on the association of Frigg with other goddesses who share similar attributes or origins. Some scholars have argued that Frigg was originally an aspect of Freya, a goddess of the Vanir tribe, who was also associated with love, fertility, magic and prophecy. Freya's name is derived from the Proto-Germanic *frawjōn, meaning "lady". The Old Norse name for Friday was Frjádagr, meaning "Freya's day". This suggests that Frigg and Freya were once considered to be the same goddess, or that they were later merged or confused by the Norse people.

However, these explanations are not conclusive or definitive, as there are many uncertainties and variations in the sources and traditions regarding Frigg and Friday. It is possible that different regions or periods had different names or meanings for the goddess and the weekday, or that there were other influences or factors involved. Therefore, it is difficult to determine exactly how Frigg is suggested to being the goddess of Friday, but rather to explore some of the possible connections and interpretations.

The Norse days of the week are derived from the names of the gods and goddesses of the Norse mythology. The word Saturday, however, is not related to any Norse deity, but rather to the Roman god Saturn. Saturn was the god of agriculture, wealth and time, and his name was used to name the seventh day of the week in Latin (dies Saturni) and other languages influenced by the Roman culture. The English word Saturday comes from the Old English word Sæternesdæg, which means "Saturn's day". Therefore, Saturday does not have a direct connection to the Norse days of the week, but rather a distant one through the Roman influence.