Fundjavën

Fundjavën is the Albanian term for the weekend, the regular two-day period at the end of the workweek. It usually includes Saturday and Sunday, though the exact arrangement can vary by country, sector, or religious calendar. The concept emerged with industrialization in the 19th and 20th centuries, when workers gained periodic rest from long hours.

The word fundjavë is formed from fund (end) and javë (week); in Albanian the definite form fundjavën is used when the weekend is the object of a sentence.

In Albania and Kosovo, the standard workweek typically runs from Monday to Friday, with Saturday and Sunday treated as days off for many people. Religious observance shapes weekend activities: Sunday is traditionally associated with Christian worship, while Friday prayers are central for Muslims; in practice, many people engage in leisure, family time, shopping, sports, and travel during the weekend. Some sectors or regions observe different weekend days (for example, Friday–Saturday in some Gulf countries), and in some contexts the weekend may be shorter or longer due to holidays or public services.

The weekend functions as a social and economic period for rest and recreation, with implications for business hours, schooling schedules, and cultural events. In Albanian usage, phrases like në fundjavë or në fundjavën refer to activities or plans happening over the weekend.