* Old English: *Mōnandæg*
* Proto-Germanic: *Mānōdagiz*
These words literally mean "Moon's Day". This is because, in many ancient cultures, the Moon was a significant celestial body and its phases were used to mark the passage of time.
Therefore, Monday was named after the Moon because it was the first day of the week after the weekend, which was associated with the Sun (Sunday).
It's interesting to note that many languages across Europe and beyond have similar names for Monday that relate to the Moon:
* German: Montag (Moon Day)
* Dutch: Maandag (Moon Day)
* French: Lundi (Moon Day)
* Spanish: Lunes (Moon Day)
* Italian: Lunedì (Moon Day)
So, while the day might feel like a long one, it's named after a celestial body that has been important to humans for millennia.