What is the First Day of the Week?

Why is Sunday the First Day of the Week?

Sunday is traditionally considered the first day of the week in many Western cultures due to historical and religious reasons. This convention dates back to ancient times and is rooted in religious practices:

• Roman Tradition: The Romans adopted Sunday as the first day of the week.
• Christianity: In Christianity, Sunday is the day of Christ's resurrection, and thus it holds significant importance as the "Lord's Day."
• Hebrew Calendar: In the Hebrew calendar, Sunday follows the Sabbath (Saturday), which is the day of rest.

What is the First Day of the Week Biblically?

Biblically, the first day of the week is Sunday. Thisis based on Jewish and Christian traditions:

Old Testament: In the Book of Genesis, the days of creation start with the evening and morning of the first day, traditionally interpreted as starting on what we now call Sunday.

• "And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day." (Genesis 1:5, NIV)

New Testament: Sunday is significant in Christianity because it is the day Jesus Christ rose from the dead.

• "On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb." (Luke 24:1, NIV)

In the book of Genesis, chapter 1, the creation account describes the six days of creation, followed by the seventh day, which is designated as a day of rest (Genesis 2:2-3). This seventh day is often referred to as the Sabbath.

Why is Monday the First Day of the Week?

According to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO 8601), Monday is designated as the first day of the week. This standard is widely used in international business and computing to ensure everything is clear across different cultures. The rationale includes:

• a. Standardization: Provides a consistent approach to date and time representation across different countries and
• b. Work Week: Aligns with the workweek's start in many cultures, particularly in Europe.

In Which Countries is Sunday the First Day of the Week?

Sunday is considered the first day of the week in several countries, particularly those with strong Christian traditions. Some of these countries include:

• United States: Sunday is commonly regarded as the first day of the week.
• Canada: Follows the same tradition as the United States.
• Australia: Sunday is also the first day of the week.
• United Kingdom: The country traditionally considers Sunday the first day, although, in business contexts, Monday is often regarded as the start of the week.
• Israel: In the Hebrew calendar, Sunday is the first day of the week.

Other countries that follow similar conventions include many nations in Latin America, the Middle East, and parts of Africa. However, it's important to note that in many of these countries, Monday may be considered the start of the workweek, while Sunday remains the first day of the week in a cultural or religious sense.

In Which Countries is Monday the First Day of the Week?

In many countries, particularly those influenced by European norms and the ISO 8601 standard, Monday is considered the first day of the week. These countries include:

• European Union: Most EU countries, including Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and the Scandinavian nations, consider Monday as the first day of the week.
• United Kingdom: In business contexts and modern standards, Monday is regarded as the first day.
• Australia and New Zealand follow the ISO 8601 standard in most contexts.
• China: Monday is the first day of the week, according to the official standard.
• Japan: Follows ISO 8601, making Monday the first day of the week.
• India: Monday is often regarded as the first day of the week, especially in business and government contexts.
• South Korea: Follows the international standard with Monday as the first day.
• Russia: Monday is considered the first day of the week.
• Turkey: Monday is considered the first day in business and modern contexts.

These distinctions reflect cultural, religious, and regional practices and may vary within different sectors of society, such as religious versus business contexts.