It is this
Roman custom of _inclusive_ reckoning which has led to the
French calling a week _huit jours_, and a fortnight, _une
quinzaine_.
** The word week comes from _wika_ (= Norsk _vika_) to bend or
_turn_. The idea connected with it was no doubt that of the
moon's turning from one of its quarters to the next. I can
remember when some of the people in "the Island" in Gloucester
always made a point of _turning_ any coins they had in their
pockets when it was new moon and repeating a sort of invocation
to the moon! How or when the nine day week was exchanged
by western nations for the seven day one, we do not know;
but it is likely that it may have been brought about by the
Phoenicians and Jews, who regarded the number _seven_ as
the Druids regarded _three_--as something especially sacred.
They had much of the commerce of Southern Europe in their
hands, and, therefore, a certain power in controlling the
markets, which it would be a convenience to Jews to _prevent_
falling on the sabbath day. The circumstance that the lunar
month fitted in with four weeks of seven days no doubt made it
easier to effect the change from _nundinae_.
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