What Norse God Is Wednesday Named After?

Wednesday is named after the Norse god Woden, which may come as a surprise to many. However, this god is closely associated with the worlds of war and agriculture, so it makes sense that he would be honored with the day dedicated to him. Many believe that Woden was the founder of the week. So if you’re looking for something to do on Wednesday, why not take a look at some of the events and activities associated with this Norse god? Let’s look at what gods are the days of the week named after in the article. Stay tuned!

Who invented the days of the week, and what who are they named after? 

The Babylonians were remarkable people with exciting ideas about the world around them. One of these ideas was that the earth was round. They also observed four significant seasons — winter, spring, summer, and fall. And they attributed these different seasons to different gods or goddesses.

It is primarily thanks to their observations and interpretations that we have the weekdays we do today — Wednesday through Saturday — and names for each day of the week (Sunday through Friday). They believed this was a sensible way to organize time, based on the number of celestial bodies they observed — the Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. 

One myth tells how Sunday became known as ‘the Lord’s Day.’ According to this legend, god rested on Sunday after creating everything else. So it came to be considered a special day reserved for religious activities like worshiping god or participating in ceremonies commemorating critical historical events. 

While many historians believe that the Egyptians were also responsible for introducing days of week tradition to civilization later on down the line (most likely through their connection to Mesopotamia), it is most definitely Babylonian.

What days of the week are named after Norse gods? 

The Norse gods have a profound and lasting impact on the world we live in today. Each day of the week is named after one of these deities, and each has special significance. 

• Tuesday – Tyr
• Wednesday – Odin
• Thursday – Thor 
• Friday – Frigg

So, what Norse gods are the days of the week named after? Well, Tyr is the god of war and law, who protects humanity from harm. Tuesday is named after him because it was thought that warriors needed to be ready for battle on this day. Meanwhile, Odin is the chief god of Norse mythology and one of the most important gods in Germanic paganism. He is also known as Wotan, which means “manifestation” or “one who shows up.” Wednesday’s name refers to his role as judge and mediator between humans and other gods. In addition, Thor represents strength, courage, and thunderstorms. Thursday celebrates his divine power with feasts centered around beer (or mead), meat, fjords (a type of boat), trees bearing fruit, and oaths taken under his protection. Finally, Frigg is the goddess of love, marriage, widowhood, children, serenity, and agriculture. Friday honors her role as guardian over things sacred such as homesteads, wells, and boundaries. 

What are the Norse days of the week?

The Norse days of the week are based on the lunar cycle and represent famous Norse deities. Monday (Mondag) is named after the moon, and Tuesday (Tirsdag) corresponds to when it is halfway between full and new moons. At the same time, Wednesday (Onsdag) comes from Odin’s three nights of wandering, searching for knowledge. In addition, Thursday (Torsdag) celebrates Thor’s battle against Jörmungandr, while Friday (Fredag) honors Frigg. Saturday (Lørdag) represents Yggdrasil being planted at Niflheim by two trees from Asgarth Ash Yggr innar Mímisbrunnr, and Sunday(Søndag) goes to the Sol, a pagan god of the sun.

What is Monday named after?

Monday is named after Máni, the Norse personification of the moon (and Sól’s brother). Mani is a moon god in Norse mythology. He was described as bearded and yellow-eyed and sometimes accompanied Thor on his adventures. According to legend, Máni created both day and night and ruled over fertility, agriculture, weather, ships, forests, wells, and valleys. He was followed in the skies by Hjuki and Bil, two other gods associated with day and night.

What is Wednesday named after? 

Wednesday is named after the Norse god Woden, also known as Odin. Wednesday is one of the three days in the week that are dedicated to honoring gods and goddesses. The other two days are Saturday and Sunday.

Odin was a significant figure in Germanic paganism, and the Vikings mainly worshiped him. He was considered the most powerful god in all of Asgard (the home of the gods), and he played an essential role in society and mythology. Some of his most famous stories involve battles between good and evil, such as when he defeated Loki (a malicious spirit) during Ragnarok (the end of the world).

Although Wednesday is no longer celebrated as a day off by many cultures today, its name still carries some significance. It’s believed that this day honors Woden, who represents strength, wisdom, and power. 

What is Thursday named after?

Thursday is named after Thor, the Norse god of thunder. Thor is one of the most popular gods in history, and his influence can be seen worldwide today. He is known for his ability to battle opponents head-on and wield Mjolnir (a powerful hammer) and his role in preserving justice. Thor was the son of Odin and Frigg, and he wielded immense power both physically and spiritually. He was also known for his mighty strength, lightning bolts, and ability to ride on thunderbolts. Thursday is also named after Thorsday (the day before Thor’s Day) because it was believed that he would come down to earth to visit humans on this day. 

What is Friday named after? 

Friday is named after the Norse goddess Frigg, who was the wife of Odin. According to pagan mythology, Frigg was the goddess of marriage, childbirth, wisdom, and learning. She often acted as a mediator between gods and humans and presided over judicial proceedings. She was one of the most important gods in the pantheon of Germanic gods, and she played an important role in marriage and childbirth. According to legend, Frigg could see past and future events, making her very powerful. 

Although Friday is mostly known for its association with the weekend, it has also been celebrated throughout the week since ancient times. In Ancient Greece and Rome, Friday was a holy day because it marked the end of the working week. Families would often gather together on Fridays to share food and drink (usual wine), discuss their plans for the weekend, and catch up on their news.  

Is Friday named after Freyja?

No, Friday is not named after Freyja. Friday is derived from Old English and means “day of Frigg,” the Norse goddess of fertility and love, often perceived as the same deity as Freya. This connection probably stems from Freyja’s association with both agriculture and springtime. In particular, she was known for bringing winter crops such as wheat and barley to harvest. And since these crops require warm temperatures to grow well, it makes sense that Friday would be associated with warmth-related things – like summertime! Although there may be some similarities between these two goddesses, it’s important to remember that they are separate entities with different origins and purposes. 

What is Saturday named after?

Saturday is named after the god Saturn, according to ancient Roman religion. Saturday was the sixth day of the week and was considered a sacred day dedicated to Saturn, the god of agriculture. Originally known as Samhain (pronounced “sow-in”), Saturday was considered the end of the week and a time to rest and celebrate the harvest. During this time, people would gather for ceremonies and feast on food stored over the week. 

Saturday was originally a day of rest worshiped by the ancient Greeks and Romans. The holiday was later adopted by Christians, who saw it as a day of penance and reflection. Today, most Western countries observe Saturday as a weekend full of relaxation and fun. 

What is Sunday named after? 

Sunday is named after the Sun god, Sol or Helios, in Germanic and Norse mythology. These cultures thought of the sun as a goddess and considered Sunday to be her day. In both cases, she was honored with special ceremonies and festivities.

The Germans believed that on this day, the sun rose over the horizon fully formed and brightly illuminated everything below it. They celebrated this event by holding fertility rites at sunrise in honor of their goddess Sól/Sunna. The Norwegians also held ceremonies to celebrate Sól/Sunna’s arrival, during which they would offer sacrifices of gifts and wine to thank her for bringing life into the world each week.

These beliefs gradually spread westward across mainland Europe, eventually reaching England, where they were taken up by Christian missionaries who adapted them into holiday celebrations centered around Christmas. Thus, Sunday became known as Christmas Day throughout much of western Europe!