Wednesday on Netflix: where does the name of the heroine of The Addams Family come from?


After a TV series in the sixties and several film adaptations, The Addams Family returns in a Netflix fiction centered only on Wednesday. The opportunity to explain the origin of his enigmatic first name.

In The Addams Family, Wednesday has always been one of the most iconic characters. She is distinguished by her apathy and sour sense of humor. It must be said that the interpretation of Christina Ricci – in the two films released in 1991 and 1993 – has something to do with it. For the Netflix series, Jenna Ortega in turn succeeds in offering a performance worthy of the name, perpetuating the reputation of this macabre, but endearing heroine.

Among the many mysteries that the teenager contains, there is this unusual first name. But where exactly does it come from? Charles Addams, the creator of the characters, was inspired by an English nursery rhyme published in 1838, Monday’s Child. Alas, there is no equivalent in French.

In this song, each day of the week is assigned to a child and their characteristics. If the Monday child”has a beautiful face“and Tuesday’s Child”is full of grace“, Wednesday’s child is “full of misfortune“. In English : “Wednesday’s child is full of woe“.

Word “wow” – misfortune in French – perfectly illustrates the stormy personality of Wednesday. The term is also present in all the titles of the episodes of the series.

The drawings of Charles Addams first appeared in 1938 in the pages of the magazine The New Yorker. But at this time, the characters are not yet named. It was not until the television series in 1964 that the creator gave them each a first name.

The original poem Monday’s Child :

Monday’s child is fair of face,

Tuesday’s child is full of grace.

Wednesday’s child is full of woe,

Thursday’s child has far to go.

Friday’s child is loving and giving,

Saturday’s child works hard for a living.

And the child born on the Sabbath day

Is bonny and blithe, good and gay

Wednesday is available on Netflix.



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