Friday

Friday is the fifth day of the week in many calendars, preceded by Thursday and followed by Saturday. In ISO 8601, weeks start on Monday, making Friday the fifth day of the workweek. The name derives from Old English Frīgedæg, the day of the goddess Frigg (or Freya) in Norse mythology; in many Romance languages the day is named after Venus, such as viernes (Spanish) and vendredi (French). In Portuguese the common term sexta-feira reflects the ordinal “sixth day” of the week.

Religious and cultural significance: In Christianity, Good Friday commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus and is observed with fasting and services in many countries. In Islam, Friday is the day of communal worship (Jumu'ah) around midday and holds special importance but is not a holy day in the same sense as the weekly Sabbath; many Muslims attend a sermon and prayer. Judaism observes Shabbat starting Friday evening, a day of rest that begins at sundown and ends Saturday night, influencing Friday practices such as preparation and candle lighting.

Other notes: In modern culture, Friday often marks the end of the traditional workweek and the beginning of the weekend in many countries, encouraging social and leisure activities. The term “Friday the 13th” refers to a superstition in some cultures. The concept and customs surrounding Friday vary widely by region and religion.