Thursday is a day featured heavily in Christian lore, and it’s also the traditional day U.K. elections are held on.
Thursday is sometimes referred to as “Friday’s Friday,” meaning it’s the herald of Friday and, therefore, the weekend.
So let’s take a look at all the interesting facts about Thursday!
1. Thursday is the fourth day of the week
Thursday is the fourth day of the week in many cultures, following Wednesday and preceding Friday.
2. The name Thursday is derived from the Old English Þūnresdægand the Middle English Thuresday (with loss of -n-, first in northern dialects, from the influence of Old Norse Þorsdagr) meaning “Thor’s Day,” after the Norse God of Thunder and son of Odin, Thor.
3. Many Germanic-derived languages name Thursday after Thor, like “Torsdag” in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, “Donnerstag” in Germany, and “Donderlag” in the Netherlands.
4. In the Judeo-Christian liturgical calendar, Thursday is often abbreviated to Th or Thu.
5. As Jupiter is the Roman equivalent of Thor, the Latin name for Thursday was “lovis Dies,” meaning “Jupiter’s Day.”
6. In some cultures, Thursday is considered the unluckiest day of the week. This belief dates back to ancient times, when Thursday was associated with the god of thunder and lightning, who was often seen as a destructive and unpredictable force.
In some cultures, it is believed that starting a new project or journey on Thursday will bring bad luck and misfortune.
7. People born on Thursday are said to be optimistic, adventurous, and driven by a desire for knowledge and success.
They may be drawn to careers in education, law, or philosophy, and tend to have a natural leadership ability.
8. The astrological sign for Thursday is Sagittarius, which is associated with expansion, travel, and adventure.
Sagittarians are known for their love of learning, their sense of humor, and their optimistic outlook on life. They are often drawn to careers that allow them to explore the world and expand their knowledge and experiences.
9. In many cultures, Thursday is associated with the color purple.
In many cultures, Thursday is associated with the color purple. Purple has long been considered a royal color, and is often associated with wealth, power, and wisdom. It is also associated with creativity and spirituality, and is a popular color for meditation and other spiritual practices.
10. In Latin, the possessive case of Jupiter was either “lovis” or “jovis,” and therefore, most languages derived from Latin reflect this in their naming of Thursday, like the Spanish “jueves,” the French “jeudi,” or the Italian “giovedi.”
11. In Christianity, Maundy Thursday, also known as Holy Thursday, is the Thursday before Easter, which is the day that The Last Supper took place.
12. “Ascension Thursday” is 40 days after Easter and is when Christ was said to have ascended to heaven.
13. On Thursday, June 20, 1782, the fledgling United States of America decided to do some branding and selected the Bald Eagle as its official emblem.
14. The astrological and astronomical sign of the planet Jupiter is sometimes used to represent Thursday.
15. Thursday is the name of a six-piece post-hardcore rock band from America formed in 1997.
16. The Thor’s Day Tornado Outbreak of 1975 was a series of deadly tornadoes that occurred on Thursday, April 3, 1975, in the central United States.
The outbreak resulted in 319 deaths and over 5,000 injuries, and is considered one of the deadliest tornado outbreaks in U.S. history.
17. In some American high schools during the 1950s and 1960s, wearing the color green on a Thursday would lead to people believing you were gay.
18. In the United States, Thanksgiving Day is always celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November.
This tradition dates back to 1863, when President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national day of thanksgiving to be held on the last Thursday in November.
The holiday has since become a beloved tradition, marked by feasting, family gatherings, and expressions of gratitude.
19. Estonians did not work on Thursdays and called their Thursday nights “evenings of Tooru.”
Some historians say that Estonians would gather in holy woods known as “Hiis” on Thursday nights, where a bagpipe player would sit and play whilst people danced and sang until dawn.
20. In the U.K., elections are always held on a Thursday.
This may seem a little odd, especially considering there’s no specific reason why other than tradition. The last U.K. election to be contested that did not occur on a Thursday was back in 1931, when everybody voted on a Tuesday.
21. Back in the USSR during the 1970s and 1980s, Thursday was known as the “Fish Day” of the week, where the nation’s food service institutions would serve fish rather than meat.
22. In Australia, most movie premieres are often held on a Thursday.
23. Leonardo Da Vinci, an artist, inventor, pioneer, and genius (and probably a time traveler), was born on Thursday, April 15, 1452.
24. In the Thai Solar Calendar, the color orange is associated with Thursday.
25. In Buddhist Thailand, Thursday is considered to be ‘Teacher’s Day,” and it is believed that a person should begin their education on a Thursday.
26. Thai students still pay homage to this belief by holding gratitude ceremonies for their teachers that are always held on a Thursday.
27. Following in the same vein, graduation days at universities in Thailand almost always occur on a Thursday.
28. In most of the languages spoken in India, the word for Thursday is “Guruvara,” with vara meaning “day,” and “guru” is the style for Brhaspati, who is a guru to the gods and a regent of the planet Jupiter.
29. Thursday is considered an auspicious day for many activities in Hindu culture, including weddings, buying property, and starting a new business.
Hindus believe that performing important tasks on Thursday can bring good luck and blessings from the gods. Many Hindu temples offer special prayers and services on Thursdays to honor Jupiter and seek his blessings.
30. In some African cultures, Thursday is considered a day for honoring ancestors and spiritual leaders.
Many people perform rituals and make offerings to their ancestors on Thursdays, as a way of honoring their heritage and seeking guidance from those who have passed on.
31. In many European countries, Thursday is sometimes referred to as “student’s day” because it is a common day for exams and lectures.
Many universities and schools schedule important exams and classes on Thursdays, and students may spend long hours studying and preparing for these events.
32. In the UK, many newspapers are traditionally published on Thursdays. This tradition dates back to the 18th century, when newspapers were first becoming popular in England.
Many of the country’s largest and most influential newspapers, including The Times and The Guardian, still publish on Thursdays to this day. Thursday editions of newspapers often feature in-depth coverage of news and current events, as well as commentary and opinion pieces.
33. Thursday is the busiest day of the week for some businesses, including grocery stores and restaurants.
Many people do their grocery shopping and eat out on Thursdays, in preparation for the weekend. This can lead to longer lines and wait times at popular stores and restaurants.
34. The German word for Thursday is “Donnerstag,” which means “thunder day.”
This name reflects the Norse origins of the name “Thursday,” which is derived from the name of the god Thor, who was associated with thunder and lightning.
35. In some cultures, it is considered bad luck to start a journey on a Thursday.
Starting a journey on Thursday may have been seen as inviting the capricious influence of Jupiter, which could lead to unforeseen obstacles and challenges. Despite this belief, many people today travel on Thursdays without incident and do not give much thought to the superstitions of the past.
36. Many television shows and movies premiere on Thursday nights. This tradition dates back to the 1980s, when NBC began airing its “Must See TV” lineup on Thursday nights.
Many people look forward to Thursday nights as a chance to catch up on their favorite shows and movies.
Get your fill of surprises about this day with these fun Thursday facts.