Born on a Saturday

The name and its planet

Saturday is the only English weekday that keeps a Roman god's name: the dies Saturni, Saturn's day, became Old English Sæternesdæg. Most other European languages took their word instead from the Sabbath, Hebrew Shabbat, through Latin sabbatum: Italian sabato, Spanish sábado, French samedi, German Samstag and Russian subbota. Northern Germany also uses Sonnabend, "Sunday eve", while Swedish lördag means "washing day". In Hindi it is Shanivār, the day of Shani, the planet Saturn, and in Japanese Doyōbi, the "earth day".

Born on a Saturday

The rhyme says "Saturday's child works hard for a living", a verdict in keeping with Saturn, which Western astrology links with discipline, endurance, age and limitation. Among the Akan of Ghana a Saturday-born boy is Kwame (Kwamena) and a girl Ama (Amma). In Thailand Saturday's colour is purple, and its Buddha image shows him seated in meditation, sheltered by the many-headed serpent king Mucalinda; Burmese astrology likewise gives the Saturday-born the naga, the serpent-dragon. In Greek and Balkan folklore people born on a Saturday were sometimes credited with the power to see and drive away vampires and other restless dead.

Lore and observance

For Jews the Sabbath begins at sunset on Friday and ends at nightfall on Saturday, a day of rest commanded in the Ten Commandments in remembrance of creation (see Jewish festivals and the Sabbath). Seventh-day Adventists and some other Christians also keep Saturday as the Sabbath. In Hindu practice Saturday is the day to propitiate Shani, whose influence Vedic astrology considers heavy, often with offerings of sesame oil and visits to Hanuman's temples. In Western magic Saturn's day is linked with lead, endings and protection.