One of the most notable influences of Norse mythology is found in the English names for the days of the week. Monday and Sunday were named after the moon and sun respectively, with Tuesday to Friday dedicated to a different Norse god. It was in fact the Romans who first named the days of the week after the sun, the moon and five deities: Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus and Saturn. You can still hear the remnants of those Roman names in the Spanish and French days of the week. The Nordics, however, took those Roman names for each day and simply switched their own corresponding god onto each one. The day named after the Roman god of war Mars changed names to the Norse god of war Tyr. It is the Norse versions that seem to have stuck in the Germanic languages, including English.
DAY
OLD NORSE
DEDICATED TO
Monday
Mánadagr
The moon
Tuesday
Týsdagr
Tyr, god of justice and war
Wednesday
Óðinsdagr
Odin, god of war, wisdom and poetry
Thursday
Þórsdagr
Thor, god of protection and thunder
Friday
Frjádagr
Freyja, goddess of love
Saturday
Laugardagr
Saturn, god of harvest
Sunday
Sunnudagr
The sun