# Calendar That Start On Mondays **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 5, 2011, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calendar-that-start-on-mondays/566519 "2011-01-05T19:09:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ronald\_C.Semone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/cc9497/32.png) [@Ronald\_C.Semone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ronald_C.Semone)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2011, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calendar-that-start-on-mondays/566519/1 "2011-01-05T19:09:24Z")
I just realized that a wall calendar I received as a Christmas present has a feature I have never before seen in a calendar: the weeks start with Monday, ie. Monday, January 3, 10, 17, 24, and 31 are in the first column. The last column is Sunday, January 2, 9, 16, 23, and 30. The calendar was printed in England. Is this a common way for calendars to be set up in England? ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2011, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calendar-that-start-on-mondays/566519/2 "2011-01-05T19:26:11Z")
Week numbering: > **[Week](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven-day_week#Week_numbering)** > > A week is a unit of time equal to seven days. It is the standard time period used for short cycles of days in most parts of the world. The days are often used to indicate common work days and rest days, as well as days of worship. Weeks are often mapped against yearly calendars. There are just over 52 weeks in a year. The term "week" may also be used to refer to a sub-section of the week, such as the workweek and weekend. > Ancient cultures had different "week" lengths, including ten days in Egy... ISO 8061 says that the week begins on Monday, which much of Europe adheres to. However: > [@](#): > > In some countries, though, the numbering system is different from the ISO standard. At least six numberings are in use: Involving weeks beginning on Saturday, Sunday or Monday. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2011, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calendar-that-start-on-mondays/566519/3 "2011-01-05T19:32:22Z")
This is just crazy. I say it’s time for another revolution to teach those bastards how to calendar properly. A week should start with a day off. ---
**Author:** ![Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8edcca/32.png) [@Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superfluous_Parentheses)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2011, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calendar-that-start-on-mondays/566519/4 "2011-01-05T19:34:00Z")
It’s common, at least in Europe. As a “Christian country”, I’m surprised the US _don’t_ have Sunday as the last day. But I may be confused here, because in the Netherlands, keeping _Sunday_ as the rest day is one of the hobby horses of the Christian conservative types (even though that’s a-historical, if you can call it that). ETA: [found some even more confusing info](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sabbath#Christian_tradition) regarding the sabbath. Always thought “God rested on the last day” was the whole point. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2011, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calendar-that-start-on-mondays/566519/5 "2011-01-05T19:51:43Z")
Day-Timers tried that back in the late 80s or early 90s. IIRC, they went to a 6-column week where Sat & Sun shared a space in the 6th column. I think it may still be an option you can choose, but they sure as hell heard from those of us it pissed off when they made it the default one year. I think I even got a full year of inserts free once they’d reprinted them. ---
**Author:** ![Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiendish_astronaut/32/3295_2.png) [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2011, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calendar-that-start-on-mondays/566519/6 "2011-01-05T19:58:02Z")
I’m not in any way religious, but didn’t God rest on the 7th day? The day represented by a Sunday? ---
**Author:** ![Absolute](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b2d939/32.png) [@Absolute](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Absolute)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2011, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calendar-that-start-on-mondays/566519/7 "2011-01-05T20:07:32Z")
Saturday and Sunday are the week **end**. The end of the week. Therefore, the week starts with Monday. You work for 5 days then take two days off. I’ve never understood why calendars split the weekend. ---
**Author:** ![Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8edcca/32.png) [@Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superfluous_Parentheses)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2011, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calendar-that-start-on-mondays/566519/8 "2011-01-05T20:09:03Z")
> [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](#): > > I’m not in any way religious, but didn’t God rest on the 7th day? The day represented by a Sunday? Sabbath used to be Saturday, until the Catholic church changed it. See my link above. ---
**Author:** ![Keeve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@Keeve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keeve)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2011, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calendar-that-start-on-mondays/566519/9 "2011-01-05T22:28:32Z")
> [@Absolute](#): > > Saturday and Sunday are the week **end**. The end of the week. Therefore, the week starts with Monday. Yes, that’s one way of looking at it. Here’s another: A line has two ends. There’s one at this end, and the other is at the other end. Similarly, a week can have a day off at each end. ---
**Author:** ![Ximenean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/aca169/32.png) [@Ximenean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ximenean)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2011, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calendar-that-start-on-mondays/566519/10 "2011-01-05T22:43:20Z")
Brit here and yes, I do find US-style calendars a little awkward. It just makes sense to keep the weekend days together. If you’re scanning through a calendar looking at what events are happening on upcoming weekends, with the US format you have to keep scanning from one side to the other. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2011, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calendar-that-start-on-mondays/566519/11 "2011-01-05T22:55:19Z")
> [@Ximenean](#): > > Brit here and yes, I do find US-style calendars a little awkward. It just makes sense to keep the weekend days together… I’m an _American_ and I’ve always thought putting Sunday at the begining of the week was stupid. Especially say on a work schedule that isn’t posted until Friday. Most places I’ve worked used Monday-Sunday work weeks and used approriate calenders though. One place I worked did _Thursday-Wednesday_ work weeks. _That_ was confusing. ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2011, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calendar-that-start-on-mondays/566519/12 "2011-01-06T01:54:04Z")
This thread discusses other countries that put Monday as the first day of the week on the calendar > **[My Annual Mon-Sun Calender Rant](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=539782)** > > Jesus H. Christ! What is it about calendar companies that they have to put out calendars with the weeks running Monday to Sunday instead of Sunday to Saturday, like God intended?!? I still have an elderly uncle and aunt or two stateside, and we... ---
**Author:** ![Fake\_Tales\_of\_San\_Francisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8491ac/32.png) [@Fake\_Tales\_of\_San\_Francisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fake_Tales_of_San_Francisco)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2011, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calendar-that-start-on-mondays/566519/13 "2011-01-06T02:01:20Z")
> [@Keeve](#): > > Yes, that’s one way of looking at it. Here’s another: A line has two ends. There’s one at this end, and the other is at the other end. Similarly, a week can have a day off at each end. Then you should start calling it the ‘weekends’. And then there can be a whole lot more confusion regarding which one you’re talking about. ---
**Author:** ![Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brown_eyed_girl/32/3574_2.png) [@Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brown_Eyed_Girl)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2011, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calendar-that-start-on-mondays/566519/14 "2011-01-06T04:17:00Z")
> [@Absolute](#): > > Saturday and Sunday are the week **end**. The end of the week. Therefore, the week starts with Monday. > > You work for 5 days then take two days off. > > I’ve never understood why calendars split the weekend. This. Another American here who prefers calendars that start on Monday. Back when I worked an office job (9-5, M-F), it was easier to block out my weekend activities, and quickly review them, if Saturday and Sunday next to each other. They belong together. It makes no sense splitting them. My Google calendar starts on Monday. I find it confusing to look at Sunday-starting calendars. I say the Europeans got this one right. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2011, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calendar-that-start-on-mondays/566519/15 "2011-01-06T05:20:35Z")
I’ve learned my lesson about buying calendars in Europe without examining them first . . . although their system makes more sense to me. So does their referring to dates by day/month/year (though year/month/day makes even more sense and is easier to sort). ---
**Author:** ![Locrian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/locrian/32/14146_2.png) [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2011, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calendar-that-start-on-mondays/566519/16 "2011-01-06T05:23:52Z")
There’s always the pointless calendar! Thanks to Weird Earl’s! > **[Pointless Calendar - Unusual gift - Unusual Gifts - Pointless Perpetual Calendar](http://www.pointlesscalendar.com/)** > > Very unusual gift. The perpetual pointless calendar. Pointless pictures, pointless numbers in rows of ten and no days of the week. An Off the wall idea. And I am on for the “starting on Mondays too”. Maybe we should rename the days. Use Locrian for Thursdays. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2011, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calendar-that-start-on-mondays/566519/17 "2011-01-06T06:02:35Z")
I had a calendar like that and I hated it. I like my calendars old-school. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2011, 10:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calendar-that-start-on-mondays/566519/18 "2011-01-07T10:50:26Z")
Saturday ends the week because it is the Sabbath (as recognized by the people who actually have a Sabbath), and the Sabbath is on the seventh day. And Jesus came back to life on the first day of the week, according to all biblical accounts. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2011, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calendar-that-start-on-mondays/566519/19 "2011-01-07T20:08:04Z")
Monday first calendars have been around the USA for a couple decades. I always picked the Sunday first calendars from the stack of free ones at work so I didn’t have to hear how my calender was wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2011, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calendar-that-start-on-mondays/566519/20 "2011-01-07T21:00:53Z")
Ah! That’s why my London calendar starts Monday first. Thanks - I was thinking the same thing. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calendar-that-start-on-mondays/566519.md?page=2)