35 Fun and Fascinating Facts About Thursday

Thursday is often seen as just another day of the week. But this modest weekday has some fascinating facts behind it.

In this post, you’ll discover 35 fun and surprising facts about Thursday. From its origins to cultural associations, there are many cool things about this day that you may not know.

Let’s dive in!

Origins of the Name

1. Thursday is named after the Norse god Thor

In Norse mythology, Thor was the god of thunder and lightning. The English name Thursday comes from Old English “Þūnresdæg” meaning Thor’s day. Many other languages also associate this day’s name with Thor.

2. It’s also associated with the Roman god Jupiter

The Latin name for Thursday was “Jovis Dies” meaning “Jupiter’s Day”. Jupiter was the god of the sky and thunder in Roman mythology. So both Thor and Jupiter relate to thunder!

3. In Romance languages, it’s “Jupiter’s Day”

In French, Thursday is jeudi. In Spanish, it’s jueves. The Romance languages reflect the Roman influence, with names meaning “Jupiter’s Day”.

4. In India, it’s dedicated to the guru of the gods

In Hindi and other Indian languages, Thursday is Guruvara or Brihaspativaara. This comes from Brihaspati, guru to the gods and regent of Jupiter.

Religious and Cultural Significance

5. Some Christians observe Maundy Thursday

Maundy Thursday is the Thursday before Easter. It commemorates the Last Supper of Jesus Christ with the Apostles. Some churches hold special services on this day.

6. Ascension Day falls on a Thursday

According to Christian belief, Jesus ascended into heaven 40 days after the resurrection. Ascension Day always falls on a Thursday.

7. In Islam, fasting on Mondays and Thursdays is encouraged

While fasting during Ramadan is an obligation, fasting on Mondays and Thursdays outside of Ramadan is considered virtuous in Islam.

8. But early Christians avoided fasting on Thursdays

To differentiate themselves from Jews who traditionally fasted on Mondays and Thursdays, early Christians deliberately avoided fasting on Thursdays.

9. Many Thai students start school on a Thursday

In Thailand, there is a superstition that you should begin your education on a Thursday for good luck. So Thai students often start school on Thursdays.

10. Thailand and many other countries hold national elections on Thursdays

For unknown reasons, many countries including Thailand, the UK, Spain, and Finland hold their national elections on Thursdays.

Astrological Connections

11. Thursday is associated with the planet Jupiter

In astrology, the planet Jupiter is linked to Thursday. Jupiter was seen as the most auspicious planet in astrology, bringing good luck and abundance.

12. People born on Thursday are said to be optimistic and generous

According to astrologers, if you were born on a Thursday, you are likely to be generous, optimistic, and open-minded – traits associated with the planet Jupiter.

13. Thursday’s birthstone is the Sapphire, Carnelian

The birthstones for Thursday are sapphire and carnelian. Sapphire is a symbol of prosperity, knowledge, and wisdom

14. In the Greek system, Thursday is the fifth day of the week

In Greek, Thursday translates to “fifth day”. Like many other cultures, Greeks considered Sunday the first day of the week.

15. Thursday’s Norse god Thor relates to the fifth day too

It is the fifth day of the week in countries that use Sunday as the first day of the week in their calendar. In Slavic languages and in Chinese, Thursday is the fourth day, while the Greeks and Portuguese refer to Thursday as the fifth day.

Fun Facts and Traditions

16. “Thank God It’s Thursday” is a popular phrase

The abbreviation “T.G.I.T.” standing for “Thank God It’s Thursday” became popular in the 1990s. For workers, Thursday signals the end is near!

17. Thursday night is a popular time to socialize in many places

In Britain and other countries, Thursday night is seen as a social night. People often go out to pubs, bars, and restaurants on Thursdays.

18. In Australia, most blockbuster movies open on Thursdays

While Fridays are movie release days in the US, big blockbusters typically premiere on Thursdays in Australia and New Zealand.

19. Most workers get paid on Thursdays in Australia

Studies show Thursday is the most common payday in Australia. Getting paid before the weekend provides a nice boost!

On Thursdays, social media users often post nostalgic “throwback” photos with the hashtag #ThrowbackThursday or #TBT. The trend started on Instagram but is common across platforms now.

21. Thursday’s child has far to go, according to the nursery rhyme

The line “Thursday’s child has far to go” comes from the well-known nursery rhyme “Monday’s Child” and hints that Thursday babies will travel far in life!

22. David Bowie recorded a song called “Thursday’s Child”

The music legend David Bowie released a melancholy ballad called “Thursday’s Child” in 1999 as part of his ‘Hours’ album.

23. Thorsday was sometimes used as an alternative name

The Old English name Thorsday was sometimes written as “Thorsday” to emphasize the connection to the Norse god Thor.

24. But some groups avoided using the pagan name

Some traditional Christian groups disliked using the pagan-derived name Thursday and instead used the neutral “Fifth Day”.

Historical Events on Thursdays

Great Depression Bread Line by aprilandrandy is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0 .

25. Black Thursday marked the start of the Great Depression

On October 24, 1929, the New York Stock Exchange had one of its worst crashes in history, known as Black Thursday. It kickstarted the Great Depression.

26. The first Harry Potter book was published on a Thursday

The publication date of the first Harry Potter book was June 26, 1997 – a Thursday. It began a worldwide phenomenon.

27. The United States declared independence on a Thursday

The Declaration of Independence was ratified by the Continental Congress on Thursday, July 4, 1776, creating an independent America.

28. The first powered airplane flight happened on a Thursday

Orville Wright made the first powered airplane flight on Thursday, December 17, 1903 near Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.

29. The Chernobyl nuclear accident took place on a Thursday

The devastating nuclear accident at the Chernobyl power plant in Ukraine occurred on April 26, 1986 – which was a Thursday.

30. Black Thursday bushfires swept across Victoria, Australia

On one of the worst days in Australia’s bushfire history, January 16, 1969, massive bushfires burnt through parts of Victoria on a Thursday.

Thursday in Arts and Culture

31. Thursday Next is a literary detective character

The fictional character Thursday Next, from the fantasy BookWorld series by Jasper Fforde, is a literary detective who journeys into the world of books.

32. The hit sitcom The Thursday Next Plays “Must See TV”

In the 1990s, NBC advertised their popular Thursday night TV line-up as “Must See TV”, featuring hit shows like Friends, Seinfeld, and ER.

33. Colm Wilkinson stars in the musical The Man of La Mancha as Don Quixote

The song “The Impossible Dream” from the hit Broadway musical Man of La Mancha premiered on Thursday November 22, 1965. It was originally performed by Colm Wilkinson as Don Quixote.

34. Thursday is personified as joyful and optimistic

In the Japanese manga series Yami no Matsuei, each day of the week is personified as a character. Thursday is depicted as a joyful and optimistic young boy.

35. Grant Wood’s famous painting American Gothic was completed on a Thursday

Artist Grant Wood completed his iconic 1930 painting American Gothic, depicting a stern farming couple, on Thursday October 18, 1930.

FAQ

A: Thursday is considered the fifth day of the week and is known for being the day before Friday. It is sometimes referred to as “thor’s day” which is derived from the norse god of thunder. Thursday is also associated with “jupiter’s day” and means “wood day” in old english.

A: Thursday was considered a lucky day in ancient times because it was associated with the planet Jupiter, which was believed to bring good fortune. In some cultures, Thursday is still considered an auspicious day for important events and celebrations.

A: Thursday is a day of the week that holds various significances in different cultures and religions. For example, in Christianity, Holy Thursday commemorates the Last Supper of Jesus Christ. In some traditions, Thursday is associated with the Norse god Thor.

A: The fourth Thursday of November is known for being Thanksgiving Day in the United States. It is a day when families and friends gather together to express gratitude and enjoy a festive meal.

A: The word for Thursday differs in various languages. For example, in Spanish, it is “jueves,” in French, it is “jeudi,” and in German, it is “Donnerstag.”

A: Here’s a random fact about Thursday: According to a superstition, if you put your clothes on inside-out and walk backward on a Thursday, it will bring good luck.

A: Unfortunately, I cannot share specific predictions for future Thursdays as it depends on various factors and events that are yet to occur.

A: Ascension Thursday is celebrated 40 days after Easter Sunday as a day to commemorate the ascension of Jesus Christ into heaven according to Christian beliefs.

A: There is no concrete evidence to suggest that Thursday is a more common day for people to be born compared to other days of the week. The day of the week a person is born is generally random and does not follow a specific pattern.

A: Thursday has historical significance in different cultures and events. For example, India gained independence from British rule on Thursday, August 15, 1947, making it an important day in Indian history.

Conclusion

Whether you see it as Thor’s day or Jupiter’s day, Thursday has plenty of fascinating facts behind it. From historical events to religious rituals, there are many ways this unassuming weekday has left its mark on our culture.

So next time Thursday rolls around, remember it’s not just any old day. Thursday has stories to tell! Which of these fun facts surprised you the most? Let us know!