First Day of the Week

[chewyman]

There seems to be a disagreement as to whether Sunday or Monday is the first day of the week. I was always told it was Sunday, this is supported by calenders and school text books. But many people think that Monday is the first day of the week. This also makes sense, with Sunday being the 7th day (the rest day according to the book of Genesis) and how work begins on Mondays.

Does anybody know what the history of this disagreement is? Which do you think is the right one?

[Bertros Bertros]

One of the several ISO definitions used to define the first week of a given year in terms of week numbering is

the week starting with the Monday in the period 29 December - 4 January

So by the definition of the ISO Monday is the first day of the week.

[Alexwales93]

I thought a working week started on a Sunday?

But I think the week starts on a Monday, because thats when we have to go to school after the weekend.

[static_ice]

I was gonna go with GFY as the first day, but I couldn't tell a lie...
anyway I always heard its been sunday, and work would start on sunday instead of monday, except for the sabbath thing...

[Guiscard]

One of the several ISO definitions used to define the first week of a given year in terms of week numbering is

the week starting with the Monday in the period 29 December - 4 January

So by the definition of the ISO Monday is the first day of the week.

This is your answer.

[static_ice]

One of the several ISO definitions used to define the first week of a given year in terms of week numbering is

the week starting with the Monday in the period 29 December - 4 January

So by the definition of the ISO Monday is the first day of the week.

what does ISO stand for? (just checking for uhh authenticity )

[chewyman]

Odd that the replies say Monday and the voting says Sunday...

[static_ice]

Odd that the replies say Monday and the voting says Sunday...

thats cuz none of these lazy bums voted

reminds me of america

[MR. Nate]

I was always told it was Sunday, this is supported by calenders and school text books. But many people think that Monday is the first day of the week. This also makes sense, with Sunday being the 7th day (the rest day according to the book of Genesis) and how work begins on Mondays.

Actually, Biblically, the 7th day of the week was Sabbath / Saturday, which is why Jews still worship on Saturday. Early Christians began worshiping on the "1st day of the week" which was Sunday, based on the fact that that is when Christ rose again. Of course, the reason that that was considered the 1st day of the week was because that's when the work began, so it seems that this particular question must be settled by another authority than Scripture.

[nagerous]

Monday is the first day of the week in the UK no-one would ever claim the week begins on a sunday if they did they would be laughed at..

I'm guessing it is different in other countries

[Syzygy]

One of the several ISO definitions used to define the first week of a given year in terms of week numbering is

the week starting with the Monday in the period 29 December - 4 January

So by the definition of the ISO Monday is the first day of the week.

what does ISO stand for? (just checking for uhh authenticity )

The International Organization for Standardization.

I think they also do S.I. units like amperes, volts, coulombs and so on.

[Bertros Bertros]

Odd that the replies say Monday and the voting says Sunday...

even odder now 15 votes without a single GFY!

syzygy is right as to what ISO stands for and what they do.

[DAZMCFC]

Sunday afternoon is for the pub and cider. monday is for the 1st day of work.

[s.xkitten]

I'm guessing it is different in other countries

thats what i've been told...the US, in all its specialness, starts its week on sunday...but many other countries start it on monday...

[twinfists]

The weekend ends on sunday, everyone knows that. So surely the start of the week is monday.

Despite this i think that sunday is the start of the week.

[wcaclimbing]

Who really cares? in the summer it doesnt matter what day of the week it is!

[funkeymunkey]

The start of the week is Sunday, it always has been and always will be.

[Stopper]

Who really cares? in the summer it doesnt matter what day of the week it is!

*Wistful sigh*

[chewyman]

Do the ISO simply make suggestions or is what they say actually enforced? For example, according to them is the metric system used?

[The Weird One]

I was gonna go with GFY as the first day, but I couldn't tell a lie...
anyway I always heard its been sunday, and work would start on sunday instead of monday, except for the sabbath thing...

What he said ^^^^^

[Wind Warrior]

Sunday for me because whether it's summer or winter I still have to wake up early for church why must people try to shove their own beliefs down other peoples throats when they can clearly see they don't want to even get up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[chewyman]

Hmm, the vote is pretty much even. I wonder if this debate will become as contentious as whether the toilet roll should be up or down or what the correct pronunciation of 'castle' is...

[Iliad]

Monday is the start of the week.

[static_ice]

Who really cares? in the summer it doesnt matter what day of the week it is!

it does if you have a job like the majority of CCers, do, and which I hope to have one this summer...

[Bertros Bertros]

Do the ISO simply make suggestions or is what they say actually enforced? For example, according to them is the metric system used?

Simply put they make suggestions for standardisation between countires. They have no jurisdiction to enforce any standards as they are non-governmental, but in practice the vast majority of the standards they set are enforced by national standards bodies.