On 7 Mar 2018 at 12:45, Jeff Zeitlin wrote:

> The phrase "metaphysical significance" is used as shorthand for
> indicating that something has significance to a culture for reasons
> other than grounded in real, measurable phenomena. As an example, the
> seven-day week of most modern cultures is ultimately based on no more
> than the creation legend in scripture; thus, 'seven' has metaphysical
> significance.

Actually the 7 day week is based on there being 7 visible "planets"
(objects that move across the sky but aren't fixed stars). Those are
the Sun, Moon, Venus, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter & Saturn (more or less
in order of how easy to notice they are).

Other cultures on earth have had shorter weeks. When I researched
this sort of thing in the 70s, I know I came across 5 day weeks.
There might have even been someplace with a 4 day week.

You might want to check this out:

https://www.tondering.dk/claus/calendar.html

(aka The Calendar Faq)

--
Leonard Erickson (aka shadow)
shadow at shadowgard dot com