Monday
Monday,the second day of the week,means literally1)“day of the moon”.Here in Britain,it’ s generally the least popular of days because for most people it means a return to work or school after the weekend break.Often,this prospect2) is viewed with a lack of enthusiasm,a sad feeling that’s sometimes referred to as“Monday morning blues3).”
Sometimes the blues may be caused by too much weekend drinking;and formerly if workmen over-indulged and needed Monday as holiday,this was humorously known as“keeping St.Monday”,as Monday was hoped to be a saint‘s day4) to be observed.Someone who can’ t afford to keep St.Monday is the housewife,for traditionally Monday was――and to some extent still is――“wash day”,the proper day for doing the laundry.
However,the day is not all blues and work.It has some redeeming5) features――that is,if you can believe folk rhymes,it’ s a good day on which to be born.“Monday’ s child is fair a face,”says one traditional rhyme,while another promised optimistically6) that if you get married on Monday,you will be wealthy.