söndag

Söndag is the seventh day of the week in the Gregorian calendar and is typically considered the last day of the week in ISO-8601 systems, which start the week on Monday. In everyday Swedish usage, it marks the end of the weekend and is commonly associated with rest, family time, and various activities, though local customs and opening hours for services and shops vary.

Etymology and naming: The word söndag derives from Old Norse sunnudagr, meaning “sun’s day.” It is the Swedish cognate of other Germanic-language names for the day, such as English Sunday and Danish søndag. The Swedish term reflects the traditional sun-day origin rather than a Latin influence.

Observance and culture: In Christian tradition, Sunday has long been observed as a day of worship and rest, commemorating the resurrection in many denominations. In secular contexts, especially in modern Sweden, Sunday is part of the weekend but may feature different schedules for schools, workplaces, and shops compared with weekdays. The day appears in various cultural expressions, such as the concept söndagsångest, or Sunday anxiety, which describes distress about the approaching workweek. Cultural practices around Sunday can include a special family meal, often referred to as söndagsmiddag, and other social or religious activities depending on community norms.

Overall, söndag functions as both a calendar designation and a day of cultural significance, bridging religious heritage and contemporary weekend life in Sweden.