Today is the first day of a new week. Wait! Does the new week start on Sunday or Monday? This is a long-debated issue — right up there with “Which comes first? The chicken or the egg?” I’ve been thinking about debates (for school) and how we frame them so that we can be seen as “correct” in the end. I remind students to “prove it” (cite evidence) and “make them agree with you” (persuasive techniques). (I realize I have not done that here, but since it’s Sunday, it’s still my day off, so I’m not research writing. HA!)

Monday is the first day of the week. Those who work Monday through Friday are apt to say that Monday is the first day (of the work week) and plan their schedules with Monday being the first day in their planners. According to https://www.timeanddate.com/calendar/days/monday.html, Monday is considered the first day of the week on many European calendars, adding the fact that Monday means “moon”. There’s also the idea that “Blue Monday” is the day employees (reluctantly) return to work after the weekend.

Those who may use the same source as I did above might say that Sunday is the first day of the week because, in many cultures, Monday means “second day.” Many U.S. calendars still use the Gregorian approach, and Sunday remains the first day of the week.

I find myself starting the week with Monday because that’s when I reset – I start the week after a weekend off of work. It makes sense to me. I’m also a fan of the “Monday, Monday” song by the Mamas and Papas, where Mondays are “so good to me,” but also “cannot be trusted.” It seems that “manifest destiny” relates to Mondays being known as the “bad day” of the week, and hence, “Let’s get it over with.”

Which day starts YOUR week?