In the Hebrew Scriptures, Wednesday is the fourth day of the week. Genesis tells us that God created the Sun, the Moon and the stars on this, the fourth day. The greater orb, The Sun, would rule The Day. The lesser orb, The Moon, would rule The Night. Similarly, most Muslims view Wednesday as the fourth day of the week (which begins on Sunday). In those countries which observe Friday as "the day of rest" (for example, Iran, Somalia or Djibouti), Wednesday is their fifth day. Most modern Christians consider Wednesday the third day. In German, Wednesday is called Mittwoch (that is, "Mid-Week"). Finns say Keskiviikko or "Middle-of-the-Week."
Old English called the day Wõdnesdæg, "The Day of Woden," after the Norse (later Anglo-Saxon) pagan god, Odin. Old Dutch used Wodensdag. Some faiths, for example the Quakers, wished to avoid the common name's pagan origins—thus, they traditionally referred to Wednesday as "The Fourth Day."
The Latin-based Romance languages—Italian, Spanish, French—call it "The Day of Mercury" (Mercoledi, Miércoles, Mercredi). Even the Japanese name for Wednesday, Sui Youbi, is a reference to Suisei, Mercury ("the water planet").
And in offices throughout the English-speaking world, Wednesday will always be called "Hump Day."
The Art Deco cufflinks, shown above, show an engraved, swirling, rising Sun on their radiant faces. Made with some (undetermined) degree of gold content, they are a handsome reminder of the third (or fourth or fifth) day. Click on the photo above to learn more about them.
Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and well! Please visit our on-line store where we continue to sell Handsome Gifts (www.LEOdesignNYC.com).
We also can be found in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, at The Antique Center of Strabane (www.antiquecenterofstrabane.com).
Or call to arrange to visit our Pittsburgh showroom (by private appointment only). 917-446-4248