History of Friday in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: July 13, 2026

Friday is the sixth day of the week in many cultures, positioned between Thursday and Saturday. In the standard ISO 8601 week, it is the fifth workday. Culturally, Friday is widely celebrated in professional and academic settings as the conclusion of the work week, often referred to as 'casual Friday' or the gateway to the weekend. In many religious traditions, Friday holds specific significance; for instance, it is a day of congregational prayer in Islam, and it carries historical and liturgical importance in Christianity, notably Good Friday. Etymologically, the name is derived from the Old English 'Frīgedæg,' meaning 'day of Frige,' honoring the Germanic goddess associated with love and fertility. Across the globe, Friday is commonly associated with social gatherings, relaxation, and cultural leisure activities, serving as a transitional marker between the responsibilities of the week and the respite of the weekend.

1962: Invention of the Filet-O-Fish

In 1962, Lou Groen, a McDonald's franchise owner based in Cincinnati, Ohio, created the Filet-O-Fish sandwich to address a decline in Friday hamburger sales caused by the Catholic tradition of abstaining from meat.

1983: Promulgation of the 1983 Code of Canon Law

In 1983, the Code of Canon Law was issued, establishing that episcopal conferences have the authority to permit alternative forms of penance to replace the traditional Friday abstinence from meat.