Holy Words & Pagan Roots: How Christianity Shaped English

Christianity has left a lasting mark on the languages we speak today, often in ways we don't even realize. Here are some fascinating (and sometimes hilarious) linguistic facts that come from Christian influence, including remnants of paganism and changes to the calendar. 🤓📜

1. The Names of the Days of the Week ⏳📆

While Christianity reshaped the calendar, many day names still come from pagan origins:

• Sunday ☀️ – From Old English Sunnandæg, meaning "day of the sun," rooted in sun worship but later associated with the Christian Sabbath.
• Monday 🌙 – "Moon's day," linked to the worship of the moon.
• Wednesday ⚔️ – Named after Woden (Odin), but in many Romance languages, it reflects Christian influence (e.g., Spanish miércoles from Latin Mercurii dies but influenced by Christianity).
• Saturday 🪐 – The only day in English still named after a Roman god (Saturn), though in some languages, it's tied to the Sabbath (sabato in Italian, sábado in Spanish).

2. Christmas and Easter Have Pagan Linguistic Roots 🎄🐣

• Christmas comes from "Christ's Mass", but many Christmas traditions, including the name Yule (from Norse Jól), have pagan origins.
• Easter comes from Eostre, the name of an Anglo-Saxon goddess of spring. The holiday was later Christianized to celebrate the resurrection of Christ.

3. Anno Domini (A.D.) and B.C. ⏳

• The Christian monk Dionysius Exiguus introduced the Anno Domini (A.D.) system in the 6th century to count years from the birth of Christ.
• "B.C." (Before Christ) and "A.D." (Anno Domini, meaning "In the Year of Our Lord") are still used today, though modern secular alternatives like BCE (Before Common Era) and CE (Common Era) are now more common.

4. The Word "Goodbye" Is a Religious Expression 👋🙏

• Goodbye evolved from the phrase "God be with ye", which was shortened over time. So every time you say goodbye, you’re unknowingly blessing someone!

5. Amen and Hallelujah Are Ancient Words We Still Use ✨🙌

• Amen is a Hebrew word meaning "so be it" or "truly," used in Christian prayers and still commonly spoken.
• Hallelujah (or Alleluia) comes from Hebrew, meaning "Praise Yahweh (God)," and remains a common expression of joy (and great gospel music).

6. The Phrase "Sunday Best" Comes from Church Tradition 👗👞

• The phrase "Sunday best" (meaning one's finest clothes) comes from the Christian tradition of wearing elegant clothing to church services. So if you dress up on Sundays, blame (or thank) centuries of religious tradition.

7. Many English Idioms Come from the Bible 📖💬

Christianity influenced many common English expressions, such as:

• "By the skin of one’s teeth" (from Job 19:20) – meaning barely escaping a situation.
• "A thorn in the flesh" (from 2 Corinthians 12:7) – referring to a persistent problem.
• "The powers that be" (from Romans 13:1) – meaning authorities in charge.

8. Months of the Year Reflect Religious and Pagan Influences 🗓️🔄

• January is named after Janus, the Roman god of beginnings, but it became the start of the year due to Pope Gregory XIII’s reforms (Gregorian Calendar).
• December means "the tenth month" in Latin, but after Christian adjustments to the calendar, it became the twelfth. Math wasn’t their strong suit, apparently. 🤷‍♂️

9. The Word "Saint" Influences Place Names 🏙️✨

Many cities and regions carry Christian influence through the word Saint (St.):

• San Francisco (St. Francis)
• São Paulo (St. Paul)
• St. Petersburg (named after Peter, though later secularized in Soviet times).

10. The Gregorian Calendar Is a Christian Invention 📅✝️

• The calendar we use today was introduced by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582 to correct inaccuracies in the older Julian Calendar (established by Julius Caesar). It fixed the drift in Easter’s date and is now the standard worldwide. So yes, if you've ever been late to an appointment, you can (technically) blame a pope. 😆

Christianity not only shaped religious thought but also deeply influenced language, calendars, and common expressions. Many words, phrases, and traditions we use today have roots in both Christian and pre-Christian (pagan) practices that were absorbed and reinterpreted over time. So the next time you say goodbye, mark your calendar, or pull out your Sunday best, just remember—you’re speaking a little bit of history. 😉