Monday's Child

"Monday's Child" is a traditional English nursery rhyme that assigns personality traits and destinies to children based on the day of the week on which they were born.

First Recorded Publication

The earliest known version of "Monday's Child" was first recorded in print in 1838 by A.E. Bray in her work "Traditions of Devonshire." It was later collected by James Orchard Halliwell in the mid-19th century, helping to establish it in the nursery rhyme canon.

Ancient Fortune-Telling Tradition

The concept of predicting a person's character based on their birth day is much older than the rhyme itself. Evidence of such fortune-telling traditions dates back to 16th-century England. Thomas Nashe, in the 1570s, mentioned stories told to young people in Suffolk about the luck associated with their birth day.

The Seven Children

The rhyme assigns a distinct characteristic to each day:

• Monday's child is fair of face
• Tuesday's child is full of grace
• Wednesday's child is full of woe
• Thursday's child has far to go
• Friday's child is loving and giving
• Saturday's child works hard for a living
• The Sabbath child (Sunday) is bonny and blithe, good and gay

Variations and Changes

The rhyme has seen numerous variations throughout its history:

• Wednesday and Friday swap: In older versions, "full of woe" was assigned to Friday's child, possibly reflecting superstitions about Friday being an unlucky day or its association with the Crucifixion
• Thursday and Saturday swap: The fortunes assigned to these days have also been exchanged in different versions
• Sabbath variations: Some versions replace "Sabbath day" with "Christmas Day"
• Starting day: Some versions begin on Sunday rather than Monday

As a Mnemonic

Beyond fortune-telling, "Monday's Child" serves as a helpful mnemonic for children learning the seven days of the week. The rhyming structure makes the days easy to remember in order.

Cultural Impact

The rhyme has been widely referenced in literature, film, and popular culture. Many adults remember checking which day they were born to see what the rhyme predicted for them—even if they didn't actually believe in the fortune-telling aspect.

Understanding the Meanings

Some lines require interpretation:

• "Far to go" (Thursday): Could mean a long journey in life, or much to achieve
• "Full of woe" (Wednesday): Traditionally the least desirable fate, though some interpret it as depth of feeling rather than sadness
• "Works hard for a living" (Saturday): A dignified fate in many interpretations, suggesting industriousness