French Republican Calendar

The French Republican Calendar (also French Revolutionary Calendar; French: Calendrier Républicain) is a calendar proposed during the French Revolution, and used by the French government for about twelve years from November 1793. It was designed by the politician and agronomist Charles Gilbert Romme, although it is usually attributed to Fabre d'Églantine, who invented the names of the months. The calendar was adopted by the Jacobin-controlled National Convention on October 24 1793.

Usage in Saint-Domingue
The calendar was alo used in Saint-Domingue, for example in the letters of Toussaint Louverture or documents by French Commisioners in the colony, such as Léger Félicité Sonthonax.

The ten days of the week
The month is divided into three decades or 'weeks' of ten days each, named simply:
 * primidi (English: first day)
 * duodi (English: second day)
 * tridi (English: third day)
 * quartidi (English: fourth day)
 * quintidi (English: fifth day)
 * sextidi (English: sixth day)
 * septidi (English: seventh day)
 * octidi (English: eighth day)
 * nonidi (English: ninth day)
 * décadi (English: tenth day)

The months
The Republican calendar year began at the autumn equinox (during the month of September in the Northern Hemisphere) and had twelve months of 30 days each, which were given new names based on nature:


 * Autumn (Automne):
 * Vendémiaire (from Latin vindemia, "vintage") Starting September 22, 23 or 24
 * Brumaire (from French brume, "mist") Starting October 22, 23 or 24
 * Frimaire (From French frimas, "frost") Starting November 21|, 22 or 23
 * Winter (Hiver):
 * Nivôse (from Latin Nivosus, "snowy") Starting December 21, 22 or 23
 * Pluviôse (from Latin pluviosus, "rainy") Starting January 20, 21 or 22
 * Ventôse (from Latin ventosus, "windy") Starting February 19, 20 or 21
 * Spring (Printemps):
 * Germinal (from Latin germen, "seed") Starting March 20 or 21
 * Floréal (from Latin flos, "flower") Starting April 20| or 21
 * Prairial (from French prairie, "meadow") Starting May 20 or 21
 * Summer (Eté):
 * Messidor (from Latin messis, "harvest") Starting June 19 or 20
 * Thermidor (from Greek thermos, "hot") Starting July 19 or 20
 * Fructidor (from Latin fructus, "fruits") Starting August 18 or 19

Reference

 * French Republican Calendar. (2005, December 2). Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 06:25, December 5, 2005.