Editing Wednesday

{{short description|Day of the week}}
{{other uses|Wednesday (disambiguation)}}
{{Original research|date=March 2021}}
[[File:NKS 1867 4to, 97v, Odin on Sleipnir.jpg|thumb|The [[Norse religion|Norse]] god [[Odin]] or Wōden, in an 18th century [[Iceland]]ic manuscript, after whom Wednesday is named]]

'''Wednesday''' is the [[day of the week]] between [[Tuesday]] and [[Thursday]]. According to [[International Standard Name Identifier|international]] standard [[ISO 8601]], it is the third day of the week.{{failed verification | reason = searched "third" and got nothing, and the only result for "of the week" was "ordinal number of a calendar week (3.1.2.16) within a calendar year (3.1.2.21) of the week calendar (3.1.1.23)" - added the closest I could find to a quote |date=May 2025}}<ref>{{Cite web |title=ISO 8601-1:2019(en) Date and time — Representations for information interchange — Part 1: Basic rules |url=https://www.iso.org/obp/ui/en/#iso:std:iso:8601:-1:ed-1:v1:en |access-date=2024-05-14 |website=www.iso.org| quote = calendar day of week: day amongst the sequence of week calendar (3.1.1.23) days, namely, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, or Sunday }}</ref>

In English, the name is derived from [[Old English]] {{Lang|ang|Wōdnesdæg}} and [[Middle English]] {{Lang|enm|Wednesdei}}, 'day of [[Woden]]', reflecting the [[Anglo-Saxon paganism|religion practised by the Anglo-Saxons]], the English equivalent to the [[Norse mythology|Norse]] god [[Odin]]. In many [[Romance languages]], such as the French {{Lang|fr|mercredi}}, Spanish {{Lang|es|miércoles}} or Italian {{Lang|it|mercoledì}}, the day's name is a [[calque]] of [[Latin]] {{Lang|la|dies Mercurii}} 'day of [[Mercury (mythology)|Mercury]]'.

Wednesday is in the middle of the common [[Western world|Western]] five-day [[workweek]] that starts on Monday and finishes on [[Friday]].

==Etymology==
{{see also-text|[[Names of the days of the week]]|for more on naming conventions.}}
The name [[:wikt:Wednesday|Wednesday]] continues [[Middle English]] {{Lang|enm|Wednesdei}}. [[Old English language|Old English]] still had {{Lang|ang|wōdnesdæg}}, which would be continued as ''*Wodnesday'' (but [[Old Frisian]] has an attested {{Lang|ofs|wednesdei}}). By the [[early Middle English|early 13th century]], the [[i-mutation|''i''-mutated]] form was introduced unetymologically.{{Clarify|date=July 2018}}

The name is a [[calque]] of the Latin {{Lang|la|dies Mercurii}} 'day of [[Mercury (mythology)|Mercury]]', reflecting the fact that the Germanic god [[Woden]] (Wodanaz or Odin) during the [[Roman Empire|Roman era]] was [[interpretatio romana|interpreted]] as "Germanic Mercury".

The Latin name dates to the late 2nd or early 3rd century. It is a calque of Greek {{lang|grc|ἡμέρα Ἕρμου}} ({{Lang|grc-latn|heméra [[Hermes|Hérmou]]}}), a term first attested, together with the system of naming the seven weekdays after the seven classical planets, in the ''Anthologiarum'' by [[Vettius Valens]] (c. AD 170).

The Latin name is reflected directly in the weekday name in most modern [[Romance languages]]: {{Lang|sc|mércuris}} (Sardinian), {{Lang|fr|mercredi}} (French), {{Lang|it|mercoledì}} (Italian), {{Lang|es|miércoles}} (Spanish), {{Lang|ro|miercuri}} (Romanian), {{Lang|ca|dimecres}} (Catalan), {{Lang|co|marcuri}} or {{Lang|co|mercuri}} (Corsican), {{Lang|vec|mèrcore}} (Venetian). In Welsh it is {{Lang|cy|Dydd Mercher}}, meaning 'Mercury's Day'.

The [[Dutch language|Dutch]] name for the day, {{Lang|nl|woensdag}}, has the same etymology as English ''Wednesday''; it comes from [[Middle Dutch]] {{Lang|dum|wodenesdag}}, {{Lang|dum|woedensdag}} ('Wodan's day').

The [[German language|German]] name for the day, {{Lang|de|Mittwoch}} (literally: 'mid-week'), replaced the former name {{Lang|de|Wodenstag}} ('Wodan's day') in the 10th century. (Similarly, the [[Yiddish]] word for Wednesday is {{Lang|yi|מיטוואך}} ({{Lang|yi-latn|mitvokh}}), meaning and sounding a lot like the [[German language|German]] word it came from.)

Most [[Slavic languages]] follow this pattern and use derivations of 'the middle' ([[Belarusian language|Belarusian]] {{Lang|be|серада}} {{Lang|be-latn|serada}}, [[Bulgarian language|Bulgarian]] {{Lang|bg|сряда}} {{Lang|bg-latn|sryada}}, [[Croatian language|Croatian]] {{Lang|hr|srijeda}}, [[Czech language|Czech]] {{Lang|cs|středa}}, [[Macedonian language|Macedonian]] {{Lang|mk|среда}} {{Lang|mk-latn|sreda}}, [[Polish language|Polish]] {{Lang|pl|środa}}, [[Russian language|Russian]] {{Lang|ru|среда}} {{Lang|ru-latn|sredá}}, [[Serbian language|Serbian]] {{Lang|sr|среда}} {{Lang|sr-latn|sreda}} or {{Lang|sr|cриједа}} {{Lang|sr-latn|srijeda}}, [[Slovak language|Slovak]] {{Lang|sk|streda}}, [[Slovene language|Slovene]] {{Lang|sl|sreda}}, [[Ukrainian language|Ukrainian]] {{Lang|uk|середа}} {{Lang|uk-latn|sereda}}). 
The [[Finnish language|Finnish]] name is {{Lang|fi|keskiviikko}} ('middle of the week'), as is the [[Icelandic language|Icelandic]] name: {{Lang|is|miðvikudagur}}, and the [[Faroese language|Faroese]] name: {{Lang|fo|mikudagur}} ('mid-week day').  Some dialects of Faroese have {{Lang|fo|ónsdagur}}, though, which shares etymology with Wednesday. [[Danish language|Danish]], [[Norwegian language|Norwegian]], [[Swedish language|Swedish]] {{Lang|mis|onsdag}}<!-- Danish/Norwegian/Swedish -->, ({{Lang|mis|Ons-dag}}<!-- Danish/Norwegian/Swedish --> meaning {{Lang|mis|Odens dag}}<!-- Danish/Norwegian/Swedish --> 'Odin's day').

In [[Japanese language|Japanese]], the word for Wednesday is {{Nihongo krt|2=水曜日|3=sui youbi}} meaning 'water day' and is associated with {{Lang|ja|水星}} ({{Lang|ja-latn|suisei}}): Mercury (the planet), literally meaning 'water star'. Similarly, in [[Korean language|Korean]] the word for Wednesday is {{Korean|hangul=수요일|rr=su yo il|labels=no}}, also meaning 'water day'.

In most of the [[languages of India]], the word for Wednesday is {{Lang|sa-latn|Budhavāra}} — {{Lang|sa-latn|vāra}} meaning 'day' and ''[[Budha]]'' being the planet [[Mercury (planet)|Mercury]].

In [[Armenian language|Armenian]] ({{Lang|hy|Չորեքշաբթի}} {{Lang|hy-latn|chorekshabti}}), [[Georgian language|Georgian]] ({{Lang|ka|ოთხშაბათი}} {{Lang|ka-latn|otkhshabati}}), [[Turkish language|Turkish]] ({{Lang|tr|çarşamba}}), and [[Tajik language|Tajik]] ({{Lang|tg-latn|chorshanbiyev}}) languages the word literally means 'four (days) from Saturday' originating from [[Persian language|Persian]] ({{lang|fa|چهارشنبه}} {{Lang|fa|cheharshanbeh}}).

[[Portuguese language|Portuguese]] uses the word {{Lang|pt|quarta-feira}}, meaning 'fourth day', while in [[Greek language|Greek]] the word is {{Lang|el-latn|Tetarti}} ({{lang|el|Τετάρτη}}) meaning simply 'fourth'. Similarly, [[Arabic language|Arabic]] {{Lang|ar|أربعاء|rtl=yes}} means 'fourth', [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]] {{Lang|he|רביעי}} means 'fourth', and [[Persian language|Persian]] {{Lang|fa|چهارشنبه|rtl=yes}} means 'fourth day'. Yet the name for the day in [[Estonian language|Estonian]] {{Lang|et|kolmapäev}}, [[Lithuanian language|Lithuanian]] {{Lang|lt|trečiadienis}}, and [[Latvian language|Latvian]] {{Lang|lv|trešdiena}} means 'third day' while in [[Standard Chinese|Mandarin Chinese]] {{Lang|zh|星期三}} ({{Lang|zh-latn|xīngqīsān}}), means 'day three', as Sunday is unnumbered.

==Religious observances==
[[File:US Navy 080206-N-7869M-057 Electronics Technician 3rd Class Leila Tardieu receives the sacramental ashes during an Ash Wednesday celebration.jpg|thumb|alt=A priest marks a cross of ashes on a worshipper's forehead.|The imposition of ashes on [[Ash Wednesday]]]]
The [[Genesis creation narrative|Creation narrative]] in the [[Hebrew Bible]] places the creation of the [[Sun]] and [[Moon]] on "the fourth day" of the divine workweek.

[[Religious Society of Friends|Quakers]] traditionally referred to Wednesday as "Fourth Day" to avoid the [[paganism|pagan]] associations with the name "Wednesday",<ref>{{cite web |url=http://iymc.org/calendarnames.html |title=Guide to Quaker Calendar Names |author=<!--Not stated--> |publisher=Iowa Yearly Meeting (Conservative) Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) |access-date=30 March 2017 |quote=In the 20th Century, many Friends began accepting use of the common date names, feeling that any pagan meaning has been forgotten. The numerical names continue to be used, however, in many documents and more formal situations."}}</ref> or in keeping with the practice of treating each day as equally divine.

The [[Eastern Orthodox Church]] observes Wednesday (as well as Friday) as a [[Fasting#Eastern Orthodoxy|fast day]] throughout the year (with the exception of several fast-free periods during the year). Fasting on Wednesday and Fridays entails [[abstinence]] from [[meat]] or animal products (i.e., four-footed animals), [[poultry]] and [[dairy products]]. Unless a [[feast day]] occurs on a Wednesday, the Orthodox also abstain from [[fish]], from using oil in their cooking and from [[alcoholic beverages]] (there is some debate over whether abstention from oil involves all [[cooking oil]] or only [[olive oil]]). For the Orthodox, Wednesdays and Fridays throughout the year commemorate the betrayal of Jesus (Wednesday) and the Crucifixion of Christ (Friday). There are hymns in the [[Octoechos (liturgy)|Octoekhos]] which reflect this liturgically.  These include special ''[[Theotokion|Theotokia]]'' ([[hymn]]s to the [[Theotokos|Mother of God]]) called {{Lang|grc-latn|Stavrotheotokia}} ('Cross-Theotokia'). The [[dismissal (liturgy)|dismissal]] at the end of services on Wednesday begins with these words: "May Christ our true God, through the power of the precious and life-giving cross...."

In [[Irish language|Irish]] and [[Scottish Gaelic]], the name for Wednesday also refers to fasting, as it is {{Lang|ga|Dé Céadaoin}} in Irish Gaelic and {{Lang|gd|Di-Ciadain}} in Scottish Gaelic, which comes from ''{{lang|ga|chéad}}'', meaning 'first', and ''{{lang|ga|aoine}}'', meaning 'fasting', which combined means 'first day of fasting'.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bitesizeirishgaelic.com/blog/days-of-the-week/ |title=The Days of the Week in Irish |publisher=Bitesizeirishgaelic.com |date=4 August 2012 |access-date=7 August 2014}}</ref>

In American culture many [[Catholic]] and [[Protestant]] churches schedule study or prayer meetings on Wednesday nights. The sports calendar in many American public schools reflects this, reserving Mondays and Thursdays for girls' games and Tuesdays and Fridays for boys' games while generally avoiding events on Wednesday evening.

In the Catholic devotion of the [[Rosary based prayers#Holy Rosary|Holy Rosary]], the glorious mysteries are meditated on Wednesday and also Sunday throughout the year.

Wednesday is the day of the week devoted by the Catholic tradition to [[Saint Joseph]].

In [[Hinduism]], [[Budha]] is the god of [[Mercury (planet)]], Wednesday, and of merchants and merchandise. [[Krishna]],  [[Vithoba]], and [[Ganesha]] are also worshipped on Wednesday.

==Cultural usage==
According to the [[Thai solar calendar]], the color associated with Wednesday is green.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://dukelanguage.com/2014/01/color-meaning/|title=Did you know that in Thailand, there's an auspicous color for every… |publisher=Duke Language School|location=Bangkok, Thailand|date=2 January 2014|access-date=12 December 2016}}</ref>

In the folk rhyme [[Monday's Child]], "Wednesday's child is full of woe". In the rhyme [[Solomon Grundy (nursery rhyme)|Solomon Grundy]], Grundy was "married on Wednesday". In ''[[Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day]]'', the disagreeable nature of the weather is attributed to it being "Winds-Day" (a play on ''Wednesday''). In [[Richard Brautigan]]'s ''[[In Watermelon Sugar]]'' Wednesday is the day when the sun shines grey.{{Full citation needed|date=November 2011}}<!--Publication information and a page reference needed.--> [[Wednesday Addams|Wednesday Friday Addams]] is a member of the fictional family [[The Addams Family (1964 TV series)|The Addams Family]]. Her name is derived from the idea that Wednesday's child is full of woe. Additionally, Wednesday sometimes appears as a character's name in literary works. These include ''Thursday's fictions'' by [[Richard James Allen]], Wednesday Next from the [[Thursday Next]] series by [[Jasper Fforde]] and [[Neil Gaiman]]'s novel ''[[American Gods]]''. In the 1945 [[John Steinbeck]] novel ''[[Sweet Thursday]]'', the titular day is preceded by "Lousy Wednesday".

Wednesday is sometimes informally referred to as "[[wikt:hump day|'''hump day''']]" in [[North America]], a reference to the fact that Wednesday is the middle day—or "hump"—of a typical work week.<ref name="Oxford">{{cite web|url=http://oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/hump-day|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104214031/http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/hump-day|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 4, 2013|title=Definition of hump day in English|work=Oxford Dictionaries|publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]|access-date=3 September 2013}}</ref> [[Lillördag|<span dir="ltr" lang="sv">''Lillördag''</span>]], or "little Saturday", is a Nordic tradition of turning Wednesday evening into a small weekend-like celebration.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Woolsey|first=Barbara|date=2 February 2025|title=Lillördag: Sweden's workers de-stress with 'Little Saturday'|url=https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20210129-lillrdag-swedens-workers-destress-with-little-saturday|access-date=5 February 2021|website=BBC|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210205172655/https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20210129-lillrdag-swedens-workers-destress-with-little-saturday|archive-date=5 February 2021}}</ref> Humpday is also a name of a [[Humpday|2009 film]].

In [[Poland]], Wednesday night is often referred by young people as "time of [[vodka]]", after song by Bartosz Walaszek "Środowa noc to wódy czas"

==Astrology==
The [[astrology|astrological sign]] of the planet [[Mercury (planet)|Mercury]], '''<big>☿</big>''', represents Wednesday—{{Lang|la|dies Mercurii}} to the Romans, it had similar names in Latin-derived languages, such as the [[Italian language|Italian]] {{Lang|it|mercoledì}} ({{Lang|it|dì}} means 'day'), the [[French language|French]] {{Lang|fr|mercredi}}, and the [[Spanish language|Spanish]] {{Lang|es|miércoles}}. In English, this became "Woden's Day", since the Roman god [[Mercury (mythology)|Mercury]] was identified by Woden in [[Northern Europe]] and it is especially aligned by the astrological signs of [[Gemini (astrology)|Gemini]] and [[Virgo (astrology)|Virgo]].{{citation needed|date=August 2024}}

==Named days==
* [[Ash Wednesday]], the first day of [[Lent]] in the Western Christian tradition, occurs forty-six days before [[Easter]] (forty, not counting Sundays).
* [[Black Wednesday]], the day of a financial crisis in the United Kingdom
* [[Holy Wednesday]], sometimes called Spy Wednesday in allusion to the betrayal of [[Jesus]] by [[Judas Iscariot]], is the Wednesday immediately preceding [[Easter]]. 
* Red Wednesday, the [[Yezidi]] festival celebrated in Iraq<ref>{{cite journal|title=And the Pearl Became an Egg: The Yezidi Red Wednesday and Its Cosmogonic Background|first=Artur|last=Rodziewicz|date=19 December 2016|journal=Iran and the Caucasus|volume=20|issue=3–4|pages=347–367|doi=10.1163/1573384X-20160306}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Wikifunctions|Z17405|Day of the week}}
* {{Wiktionary-inline}}
* {{Commons category-inline}}
* {{Wikiquote-inline}}

{{Days of the week}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Wednesday| ]]
[[Category:Days of the week|3 Wednesday]]
[[Category:Fasting]]
[[Category:Hermes]]
[[Category:Odin]]