Here at CharTec, we all hail the sweetness that is Friday. Switching the lights off on Thursday afternoon puts a spark in our fingertips because we know the next time we walk in, it’ll be Friday. It’s not uncommon for office workers to be excited for the end of the week, so to add some extra sprinkle to this day of days, here are some fun facts about Friday. Some you may already know, but some you may not. So… enjoy!

  • Only in the United States is it common to hear people say TGIF, which means Thank God/Goodness It’s Friday! For any out-of-country readers, we even have a popular restaurant here in the States called TGIF. Those smart cats capitalized on the energy that is Friday.
  • Taking things international! In Thailand, the color blue is very closely associated with Fridays.
  • The name “Friday” originates from a Norse goddess. The entire day was devoted to Freyja, the goddess of fertility. Freyja – Freitag – Friday.
  • If you’re scared of Friday the 13th, you may have paraskevidekatriaphobia. That is the scientific term for your fear, and it comes from the Greek word for Friday. Probably not something we recommend bringing up on a first date, though, if you can even pronounce it correctly.
  • Friday the 13th is very costly for society—according to Stuart Vyse (professor of psychology at Connecticut College and author of “Believing in Magic: The Psychology of Superstition”), America loses a ton of money every time it occurs as a result of productivity decline. Travel arrangements are canceled, doctor appointments are rescheduled, and risky endeavors of all kinds are put off in an effort to avoid tempting fate.
  • Because our very own Alex Rogers is an avid fisherman, here’s a maritime fact: in many maritime circles, it has long been considered extremely unlucky to begin a voyage on a Friday. So if you’re superstitious, don’t book that cruise to leave port on a Friday.
  • Ninety percent of companies here in the United States have a Casual Friday dress code. Jeans, T-shirts, sneakers, and sweaters—among other options—are some popular choices. Clothing is still required, though, so don’t get too excited. We have rules, people.
  • The day after Thanksgiving, regarded as the first day of the traditional Christmas shopping season, falls on a Friday and is appropriately named Black Friday. Retailers offer special reduced prices on items not normally marked down. As society gets more materialistic, the more dramatic Black Friday becomes. People have been trampled, lines form outside retail shops on Thursday evening, and physical fights have broken out over items on sale.

Now you know where the name Friday comes from, and the next time someone tells you about their paralyzing fear of Friday the 13th, you know what it’s called! Or, at least, what the word looks like… Happy FriYAY!