question Atos Ronian, Fortaleza, CE
illustrates William D’Arezzo
Officially, it’s the last day. In 2004, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) established the world standards for days, hours and years. In addition to it, the Brazilian Association of Technical Standards (ABNT) also qualifies Sunday as the last day of the week. And, consequently, Monday as the first. But then why isn’t the day called «First Friday»? Portuguese question. In the old days, in Portugal, after mass on Sunday, the day of rest in the Catholic tradition, farmers gathered to sell products. It was the holiday, which in Latin means “rest” (the word originated our “fair”, as a trade sense). The next day, they sold what was left of the bazaar – it was Monday. The name stuck, which would reinforce the idea of Sunday being the beginning of the week. But, in practice, it is the end, since it is the last day of the “weekend”.
READ TOO
– How were the names of the months chosen?
– Why does February have 28 days?
– Why is April 1st April Fools’ Day?
SOURCES ABNT, ISO and TimeAndDate websites