The Development of the Slavic Names of the Days of the Week from Christian and Pre-Christian Elements

Abstract

This paper is an attempt at tracing the origins of the Slavic names of the days of the week. Although these names have a clear etymology from a purely linguistic point of view, it is unknown whether they are of Christian or pagan origin, and if they were created by an individual – presumably Saint Cyril or Methodius – or arose more naturally. The paper examines the Slavic day-names in relation to other European languages and attempts to recreate the development process of the Slavic week from its supposedly pre-Christian beginnings to its final form that we know from written Slavic languages. The evidence shows that the Slavic names of the days of the week developed over a longer period, starting in pre-Christian times and introducing Christian elements through contact with neighboring cultures along the way. It also excludes the possibility of their creation by an individual, while leaving room to speculate about the original form of the Slavic week.