Why do we call 3 o' clock in the morning the middle of the night?

[Madmonks]

morning starts after 12 midnight ( e.g. it's now twenty to one in the morning!) but why call it midnight if its not the middle but the end of night?
morning obviously ends at 12 noon and afternoon obviously begins after noon but when does aftrenoon end and evening begin?
When does evening end and night begin ?

[Ice.Maiden]

Yopu say half past twelve at night, don't you - so after then, it's the next morning.

[Madmonks]

not bad, Ice. Maiden, but what about the rest?

[hussy]

depends if you have been to bed or not!!
when i work nights i don"t see it being anouther day until i have some sleep...

[Ice.Maiden]

LOL!!!!!!!!!!

And......I can't answer you MM!!!!!! i don't know!!!!!!!!! Mwhahaha.

[jno]

technically it's night when it's dark - and this varies through the year, especially with daylight saving. But it may also mean the time you're asleep; if you sleep from 11 to 7, for instance, then 3 would be the middle of the night for you.

[Madmonks]

jno, why isn't it called 3 0'clock in the night then?
Also if I sleep from 1p.m. to 5 p.m. I would be doing it during the afternoon so how could that be night?
Technically if I was asleep from 11 to 7 then 3 would be the middle of the sleep!