Sundays

Sunday is the day of the week observed in many countries as part of the weekly cycle. In most Western calendars it is considered the last day of the weekend, following Saturday, while some cultures and international standards designate Monday as the first day of the week, making Sunday the seventh day. The English name derives from Old English Sunnandæg, meaning “sun’s day”; in many Romance-language traditions the day is named for the Lord’s Day rather than the sun.

In Christianity, Sunday is traditionally observed as a day of worship and rest, commemorating the resurrection of Jesus. Church services, prayer, and family meals are common activities, with practices varying by denomination and country. Judaism observes the Sabbath on Saturday, and Islam designates Friday as a special day of communal prayer, with Sunday generally treated as a regular weekday in many Muslim-majority countries.

Secularly, Sunday is associated with leisure and family time in many places and serves as a common day for sports, shopping, and entertainment. The presence or absence of Sunday trade restrictions, historically known as blue laws in some regions, has influenced business hours; today many countries keep Sunday open with varying limits.

Regional and cultural variations mean Sunday can be a public holiday in some countries or a regular workday in others. In different parts of the world, the structure of the workweek may start on Sunday or end on Sunday, influencing how Sundays are scheduled within the week.