Monday, December 31, 2007

AD vs. CE

I remember my teachers in high school fighting to get the students to stop calling the years AD and instead use the religion-neutral CE. They argued that being state sponsored employees, they couldn't use anno domingo (year of our lord) as it would be a violation of the constitution's separation of church and state clause.

What about these?

Sunday: Sunne - Gemanic goddess of the sun
Monday: Mona - Gemanic moon god
Tuesday: Tiu - Norse god of war, Son of Odin
Wednesday: Wodin - Alternate spelling of Odin, Norse supreme god
Thursday: Thor - Norse god of thunder
Friday: Frigg - Norse goddess of beauty, Wife of Odin
Saturday: Saturn - Ancient Greek supreme god
January: Janus - Roman two-faced god of gateways
February: Februa - Roman day of purification
March: Mars - Roman god of war
April: Aphrodite - Greek goddess of love
May: Maia - Roman goddess of fertility
June: Juno - Ancient Roman queen of the gods

So, if we are to do away with AD as our denotation of years then I suggest we do away with all the other names with religious undertones.

Who's with me?


anyone?




no?

1 comment:

birkir said...

ah yes, when christianity took over from the old nordic religion in iceland in 1000 ce (in a decision made by parliament) ye wise olde men also decided to do away with the god derived names of, well basically, all things. so tuesday became thirdday, wednesday became midweekday, thursday became fifthday... that was over 1000 years ago and we are still stuck with the same boring old names. so for the sake of non creative boredom, i just can't be with you.