25 Interesting Facts About Saturday

Saturday kicks off the typical two-day weekend, often associated with the luxury of sleeping in, embracing a lazy day, or gearing up for an exciting night out.

It’s also a prime day for sports events, as it’s the most popular day for games and matches, drawing in large crowds of fans who are free from the obligations of the workweek.

There are plenty of intriguing facts about Saturdays, as well as a fascinating array of names for this day across different cultures. So, let’s dive in and explore the world of Saturday!

Here are 25 interesting facts about Saturday:

1. Named After Saturn: Saturday is named after Saturn, the Roman god of agriculture and time. It’s the only day of the week named after a Roman god.
2. Weekend Day: In many cultures, Saturday is considered the first day of the weekend, especially in Western countries where the workweek ends on Friday.
3. Shabbat: In Judaism, Saturday is the Sabbath (Shabbat), a day of rest and worship that begins at sunset on Friday and ends at sunset on Saturday.
4. Saturday Superstition: In some cultures, it’s considered unlucky to start a journey or begin a new project on a Saturday.
5. Saturday in Astrology: In astrology, Saturday is associated with the planet Saturn, which represents discipline, responsibility, and limitation.
6. School and Work: In many countries, Saturday is a day off for students and workers, though in some cultures, it’s a regular working day.
7. Saturday Morning Cartoons: In the United States, Saturday mornings were traditionally known for airing children’s cartoons, making it a special day for kids.
8. Saturday Night Live: The popular American sketch comedy show “Saturday Night Live” (SNL) has been airing since 1975, making Saturday nights synonymous with comedy for many.
9. Sports Day: Saturday is often a major day for sports, especially for soccer (football) in many countries. In the U.K., for example, Premier League matches are often played on Saturdays.
10. Saturday is for Shopping: Historically, Saturday has been a busy shopping day, as it’s one of the main days when people are off work and can visit stores.
11. Saturnalia Festival: The ancient Roman festival of Saturnalia, held in honor of Saturn, was celebrated in December and involved feasting, gift-giving, and role reversals between masters and slaves.
12. Laundry Day: In some cultures, Saturday is traditionally laundry day, where families wash and prepare clothes for the coming week.
13. Saturday Sales: Many retailers offer special sales on Saturdays to attract shoppers, capitalizing on the weekend crowds.
14. Film Releases: Saturday is often the busiest day for cinemas, with many people going to watch new movie releases on this day.
15. Halloween Connection: If Halloween (October 31) falls on a Saturday, it’s typically seen as a perfect day for celebrations, with more parties and trick-or-treating events taking place.
16. First Day of the Week: In the international standard ISO 8601, Saturday is the sixth day of the week. However, in some countries like Israel, it is considered the seventh day and the end of the week.
17. Popular Wedding Day: Saturday is one of the most popular days of the week for weddings, as it allows guests to attend without taking time off work.
18. Saturday Markets: In many towns and cities, Saturday is market day, where vendors set up stalls to sell fresh produce, crafts, and other goods.
19. Saturday’s Child: According to the old nursery rhyme, “Saturday’s child works hard for a living,” suggesting that people born on Saturday are hardworking.
20. Catholic Observance: In the Roman Catholic tradition, Saturday is often dedicated to the Virgin Mary, with special prayers and devotions.
21. Saturday Morning Fever: Saturday is a popular day for morning exercise classes, from yoga to spinning, as people take advantage of the free time.
22. Post-Sabbath Celebrations: In Jewish tradition, the end of Shabbat is marked by the Havdalah ceremony, which separates the holy day from the rest of the week.
23. “Saturday Night Fever”: The 1977 film Saturday Night Fever starring John Travolta became a cultural phenomenon and is closely associated with the disco era.
24. Day of Saturn: In many languages, Saturday is named after Saturn. For example, in Italian, it’s “sabato,” and in Spanish, it’s “sábado.”
25. Voting Day: In some countries, such as Australia, national elections are often held on a Saturday to ensure maximum voter turnout.