Hi there happy reader!
I've been doing a little more research into things Ornrian, and today I'm going to share more secrets of Ornrian time keeping! Actually, as I've noted in previous posts Ornrians are very lazy mathematicians, so they practise a simple time keeping system. You may remember my prior explanation of the months of the Ornrian Calendar however, I'll repeat them here, as I expect you will indulge me the redundancy in favor on not having to look through prior posts for reference.
The twelve months are named; Frostember, Thawinary, Rainuary, Mudember, Smellgoodie, Swimuary, Sweatember, Griddle, Antember, Piefestober, Chillin (or Chillings), and Freezeuary.
All the months are of 30 days each, and are divided into 5 weeks of 6 days. Easy hunh?
On to the days of the week then;
Maunday is reckoned to be the first day of the week. The name derives from "maun" which is an ancient word for begging. Traditionally it's the day for observing charity to the poor by giving coins to beggars, volunteering to help at charitable organizations and so forth. Also churches usually run food bank drives, and children sell candy and cookies.
In Modern times it became a day for Union activities, and led to the establishment of the 5 day work week. More recently the day has become commonly written as Moanday, and aquired an air of aggrieved inevitability. The Moanday Sigh as one drinks one's coffee before returning to the 'daily grind' is emblematic of the modern worker's mild malaise.
Tewsday is traditionally the day for hard labor. In olden times Tew was the word for working leather, beating metal, pulling up heavy loads, towing carts or laden barges, and by extension any mind numbingly simple physical labor; ie. "To tew in the mines". In more modern times Tew has become conflated with two as Tewsday is the second weekday, hence the common if incorrect useage of "Twosday".
Weddinsday, The Third day of the week in ancient times, this was a pantheonic observance day favored for weddings. In consequence the day came to be called weddings day or weddinsday, although Pantheonday is sometimes archaically used.
Thirstday, In ancient times this was known as Duetheondi or Corn Sowing Day, a laborous and thirsty activity. It aquired the common name of "thirstyday" in the 6 to 9th century. Some religous groups have retroactivally applied a ritual fast, drinking nothing from Sun-up to Sun-down. Especially observed in the Hot Countries
Fryday, Properly the day is Vendorsday, in ancient and medieval times the Fair day, although some argue the name decends from "Venus'day". In the 1st and 2nd Centuries the Ortholical Church lifted proscriptions against prostitution on Vendor's day. In the Early Modern period Vendor's day became a celebration, often a shopping day or festival day, with people finishing the work week with a bit of fun. Fried food became a centerpiece of the day, both at the fair; fried fritters, fried apples, chitterlins, and so forth. The idyllic finish to the day is Fried Chicken at Grandma's house. Hence "Fryday".
Shatterday, Origin of the name is unclear, it is proposed to derive either from the mythological origins of the world; breaking out of an egg, or from 'Slatter' a word meaning a washing woman. The day is a traditional laundry day and so the idea has some wieght. Slatternsday is attested in a letter of 5BCE and may mean either a weekday name or simply that it was washing day. Slatter is the root of 'slattern' and 'slut', and if indeed the origin of the weekday name, sheds light on the socio-dynamics of gender relations during the early modern period.