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Where Did The Idea Of A 'Hump Day' Come From? The Hump Day Camel's Origins And Memes Explained
There's a long-standing tradition of calling Wednesday the "hump day" in North America.
It's the pivotal midpoint in the workweek that marks the climb toward the weekend, playing on the idea that once you're over the Wednesday "hump," it's a smooth downhill slope to the weekend.
But the idea of a hump day got a big boost in 2013 thanks to a viral GEICO commercial featuring an enthusiastic camel asking, "Guess what day it is?"
Here's a look at the origin of the slang expression, and how a quirky commercial cemented the image of camels as hump day mascots and made the term even more popular in everyday language, as well as memes.
Where Does The Term 'Hump Day' Come From?
The phrase "hump day" is thought to have originated in North America, drawing on the idea that Wednesday represents the "hump," also commonly perceived as the hardest part of the week.
This metaphor has roots in workplace culture, with employees eagerly looking forward to the respite from work the weekend will provide. The exact origin of the term is unclear, one of the earliest internet videos about hump day was posted in December 2009 by YouTube user Manic Turtle.
In Europe, however, the approach to midweek relief is a little different. Some European countries, particularly in Scandinavia, have a tradition known as “Little Saturday,” where Wednesday is treated like a mini-weekend. On this night, people may go out for drinks or relax as they would on a Saturday, bringing a bit of weekend spirit into the workweek.
Unlike the American “hump day,” which centers on “overcoming” Wednesday, “Little Saturday” reframes it as a chance to unwind, creating a cultural midweek break rather than a workplace milestone.
Why Is Hump Day Associated With Camels?
The idea of a "hump day" does immediately evoke the vision of a "hump," like the kind seen on a camel or a buffalo. In 2013, GEICO released an advertisement playing off this concept, showing an actual camel (named Caleb) walking through an office yelling, "Uh oh, guess what day it is? Guess what day it is! Huh, anybody?"
The original video first aired on April 30th, 2013, gathering over 16 million views on YouTube before the video was removed. A June 4th, 2013, reupload by user SubscribeFor NewsAlerts gathered over 6.8 million views in 11 years.
The wildly successful ad has since inspired parodies, remakes and memes, as well as cemented the use of the phrase "hump day" in everyday vernacular among many.
What Are Some Hump Day Memes I Can Keep In My Weekly Arsenal?
For the full history of Hump Day, be sure to check out Know Your Meme's encyclopedia entry for more information.
