As a cultural and historical scholar, I find the question of why Sunday is considered the last day of the week quite intriguing. This designation is not universal and varies across different cultures and systems. Let's delve into the reasons behind this perception.

First, it's important to recognize that the concept of a week is a human construct, and its division into days and the order of those days are influenced by a variety of factors, including religious, astronomical, and cultural traditions. The seven-day week, as we know it, has its roots in ancient civilizations, but the specific order of the days is largely shaped by religious observances.

In the Hebrew calendar, Sunday is considered the first day of the week, a tradition that has been carried forward in many religious contexts, especially in Christianity. This is because Sunday is observed as the Sabbath, the day of rest following the Jewish tradition, and also as the day of the Resurrection in Christian belief. The Sabbath, or Shabbat, begins at sunset on Friday and ends at sunset on Saturday. Sunday, therefore, marks the beginning of a new week.

However, the **International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 8601**, which is a widely accepted international standard for date and time representation, designates Sunday as the seventh and last day of the week. This standard is used in many fields, including computing and international business, and it has influenced the perception of the week's structure in many parts of the world.

The reason for this difference lies in the historical development of calendars and the influence of different religious and cultural practices. The ISO 8601 standard was developed to provide a universal system for timekeeping, and it adopted the Gregorian calendar's order of days, which starts with Monday as the first day of the week and ends with Sunday as the seventh day.

It's also worth noting that the concept of a "weekend" is relatively modern and has evolved over time. In many Western societies, the weekend typically consists of Saturday and Sunday, with Sunday often being a day of rest and worship. This has reinforced the idea of Sunday as the end of the week, especially in secular contexts where the week is viewed as a cycle of work and rest.

In conclusion, the perception of Sunday as the last day of the week is a result of a combination of religious traditions, historical calendar development, and modern societal practices. While it may be the first day of the week in some religious calendars, it is considered the last day in others, including the widely used ISO 8601 standard.

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Sunday is the day of the week after Saturday but before Monday. ... According to the Hebrew calendars and traditional Christian calendars, Sunday is the first day of the week. However, according to the International Organization for Standardization ISO 8601, Sunday is the seventh and last day of the week.read more >>