Did you know that months that start on Sunday always have a Friday the 13th in them? The month we are in, February, is one of them. Sunday, for most of us, is the last day of the week, but this is not true for many countries around the world. In some countries, the first day of work begins on Sunday.
There are some strange facts about Sunday.
Support the TIME. Preserve the truth.
Professional journalism is in the public interest. Your support helps it remain independent and credible. Contribute too. 1 euro makes a difference.
Letter to the Reader — Why We're Asking for Your Support Contribute-Originally, the last day of the week, Sunday, was named after the Sun. Unlike the other six days, almost every language in the world has derived the word for Sunday from the meaning "Day of the Sun."
-In other Slavic languages such as Polish, Ukrainian, Croatian and Bulgarian, among others, the word for Sunday means "no work".
-In the Thai Solar Calendar, red is the color associated with Sunday, writes TheFactSite.
-In Roman culture, Sunday was the day of the Sun God. In paganism, the sun was the source of life and the giver of warmth to humanity. Therefore, he was the center of a popular cult among the Romans, who would stand at dawn on Sunday to catch the first rays of the sun while praying.
-Many countries, mainly in Europe such as; France, Sweden, Germany and Belgium (but also non-European countries such as Peru), choose to hold national and local elections on Sunday, either by law or by tradition.
-In most Middle Eastern countries, Sunday is the first day of the working week.
-In 321 AD, Roman Emperor Constantine I decreed that Sunday would be a day of rest for everyone except those engaged in agricultural work.
-Months that start on Sunday always have a Friday the 13th within them, and the month of February we are in is one of them.
-You can be fined up to $1,000 for whistling on Sunday in Salt Lake City, Utah.
-Many American and British daily newspapers publish larger Sunday editions, often including color comic strips, a magazine, and sometimes a parallel publication alongside a sister newspaper.
-In the United Kingdom, most television dramas such as; Downton Abbey, Call The Midwife, Lark Rise to Candleford and Heartbeat are usually broadcast on Sunday evenings.
-The British television show Antiques Roadshow has always aired on Sundays since 1979.
-Professional golf tournaments often end on Sunday. Also, most motorsports events such as MotoGP, Formula One and NASCAR Sprint Cup races take place on Sunday, with Saturday usually being the day of qualifying for the race.
-Cold Sunday is the name given to Sunday, January 17, 1982, when extremely cold air spread into the United States from Canada and lowered temperatures in most of the state well below previous records.
And as the week comes to an end, perhaps this day is a day to rest, reflect, and start over next week.