Sunday

What is Sunday and Why Does It Matter?

Sunday, the day between Saturday and Monday, holds a special place in our calendars. But have you ever stopped to wonder why this particular day has such significance? Is it just another day of the week or does it carry deeper meanings that we often overlook?

Position in the Week

ISO 8601 states that Sunday is the seventh and last day of the week. However, this isn’t always the case. In many cultures, including Hebrew, Arabic, Persian, Greek, Portuguese, Vietnamese, German, Yoruba culture, Russian, Hungarian, Maltese, Armenian, and others, Monday is considered the first day of the week. This can lead to some confusion when scheduling meetings or appointments across different regions.

The Origin of Sunday

Sunday’s name reflects various interpretations, such as the sun, resurrection, or Lord’s Day. The term ‘Sunday’ originated from Hellenistic astrology and has been adopted into various languages worldwide. It’s fascinating to see how a single word can carry so much history and meaning across different cultures!

The Christian Connection

Sunday is also referred to as the Lord’s Day in Christianity. In the gospels, women came to an empty tomb ‘toward the first of the sabbath.’ Justin Martyr mentioned reading the apostles’ memoirs and prophets’ writings on the day called ‘that of the sun,’ which later became known as Sunday. Constantine decreed Sunday as a Roman day of rest in 321, but the seven-day week continued to be used side by side until at least 354.

Observance and Practices

In different Christian traditions, Sunday is observed differently. Some observe it as the sabbath, a day devoted to worship and rest, while others have varying practices. In Roman Catholic liturgy, Sunday begins at sunset on Saturday, while in Eastern Orthodox Church, it begins with Vespers on Saturday evening.

Global Observance

There is no uniform day of rest observed by Christians globally. Certain historically religious cities schedule games at late times to accommodate people who attend morning services. In the US, professional football and college football are usually played on Sundays, while rugby matches and Premier League football matches occur in the UK on Sundays. The Indian Premier League schedules two games on Saturdays and Sundays. Amateur football in the Netherlands remains segregated by religion and day of the week.

Sports and Sunday

Sunday is associated with the Sun and has several named days with religious or cultural significance. Whitsunday, ‘White Sunday,’ is the day of Pentecost. In sports, Major League Baseball usually schedules daytime games on Sundays, while professional golf tournaments traditionally end on Sunday, except for UK events which started ending on Saturday in 1980. NASCAR, IndyCar, Formula One, and MotoGP are also held on Sundays.

Cultural Significance

Sunday is observed in various ways across different cultures. In Mandaeism, Sunday is called Habshaba and is marked with communal masbuta (baptism). In government and business, many offices are closed on Saturday and Sunday. In media, newspapers, radio stations, and television networks often have special editions or programming for Sundays. In sports, Gaelic football and hurling matches in Ireland are predominantly played on Sundays, with championship finals occurring on specific Sundays.

Music and Media

Sunday has inspired many songs and pieces of music over the years. ‘A Sunday Kind of Love’ is a 1946 jazz standard first recorded by Claude Thornhill. ‘Sunday Morning’ is a 1966 song by American rock band The Velvet Underground, while Maroon 5 also released a song with the same title in 2004. Surfaces, an American electro-pop duo, released ‘Sunday Best’ in 2019.

Conclusion

Sunday is more than just another day of the week; it’s a symbol of rest, worship, and cultural significance. From its origins in Hellenistic astrology to its current role in sports and media, Sunday continues to play a vital part in our lives. Whether you observe it as a day of rest or a day of celebration, there’s no denying the profound impact that this day has on us all.