2203: French Revolutionary Calendar: Months Dec 26, 2020

The French Revolution saw a lot of societal change, including an attempted change of the calendar. Everything was decimalized from the number of days of the week to hours in a day etc. but there were still twelve months. These months fell out on different days but roughly followed the seasons. The names are:

In Autumn: Vendémiaire, Brumaire, and Frimaire

In Winter: Nivôse, Pluviôse, and Ventôse

In Spring: Germinal, Floréal, and Prairial

In Summer: Messidor, Thermidor (or Fervidor*), Fructidor

These were all invented words meant to convey a meaning about the time. In order it would be:

vintage, mist, and frost; snow, rain, and wind; germination flowers and meadow; and harvest, summer-heat, and fruit, which would for the most part be recognizable for French speakers. This system had with it associated with produce, animals, minerals (for the winter) in order to counter the Catholic Church who had associated a saint with each day of the year. Likewise, the years and weeks ('décades') had similar systems of associated things meant to celebrate France and French culture.

Previous
Previous

2204: -ite Dec 27, 2020

Next
Next

2202: harbor and harbinger Dec 25, 2020