Why is Wednesday Known as Hump Day?

The popularity of a certain insurance company's "Hump Day" commercial reinforces the relief that workers feel each Wednesday -- that the worst of the week is over and it's downhill from here.

So as we get ready for another Hump Day, here are five things to know related to a phrase most people have come to embrace.

1. Its origins. While everyone agrees on its general meaning  -- the joy at passing the midway point of a work week -- there is little agreement on its exact origin. Dictionary dates it back to 1965 but offers no other details. Others claim it came out of California in the '70s. We'll stick with the etymologists. 

2. We don't like our jobs.  A recent Gallup poll found only 30 percent of Americans are engaged in their jobs.

3. Career advice. Many writers suggest that you shouldn't look at your job as a series of upward struggles or climbs. In this article, the writer suggests a "Leap-Day Worksheet" at noon on Wednesday to identify progress so far each week and determine how to finish out strong.

4. More advice on how to get through it. The good folks at Careerrealism even offer five tips to be more productive to get through the day. Our favorite: Don't be afraid to take five.

5. Final proof Hump Day exists. The TV insurance commercial gets its highest traffic on....you guessed it, Wednesdays. And it's spurred its share of imitators, includingthis Dallas Mavericks video.

Happy Hump Day!