What do the 7 days of the week come from?

Main Ideas

The video explains the traditional connection between the seven-day week and the seven “planets” of ancient astronomy: Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, the Sun, and the Moon. In this historical usage, “planets” included the Sun and Moon.

Weekday names reflect these celestial bodies through different languages and mythologies. The video contrasts Roman and Greek associations with Norse equivalents, which shaped several English day names:

• Sunday — the Sun.
• Monday — the Moon.
• Tuesday — Mars in some Romance-language names; English Tuesday is associated with Tyr, a Norse god of war.
• Wednesday — Mercury in some Romance-language names; English Wednesday is associated with Odin, presented as a Scandinavian counterpart to Mercury.
• Thursday — Jupiter in the Roman tradition; English Thursday means Thor’s day. Thor’s thunder and lightning are compared with Jupiter’s.
• Friday — Venus in some Romance-language names; English Friday is linked to Frigg, a Norse goddess associated here with beauty.
• Saturday — Saturn.

The central lesson is that weekday names combine astronomical traditions and cultural mythology. Different languages preserve different versions of those associations.

Speakers and Sources Featured

• An unnamed presenter or narrator explains the connections.
• Another unnamed speaker or participant offers brief responses or asks questions.
• Cultural and mythological references include the Roman and Greek traditions and Norse mythology.