Wednesday is called "Hump Day" because it represents the midpoint or "hump" of the traditional five-day workweek. The metaphor compares the workweek to a hill that workers must climb, with Wednesday being the highest point. Once this midpoint is reached, the "downhill" slide toward the weekend begins, giving people a sense of accomplishment and relief knowing the weekend is closer.
The phrase originated in the mid-20th century in the United States, initially within workplace culture as a casual term to describe getting over the middle of the workweek. The concept is that after Wednesday, the workload or stress eases as the weekend approaches, thus Wednesday is the psychological "hump" to get over.
In summary, "Hump Day" is a colloquial, positive way to acknowledge Wednesday as the midpoint of the workweek, symbolizing progress towards the weekend and the easing of the workweek burden.
