French Republican Calendar

French Republican Calendar
1
French Republican Calendar
The French Republican Calendar or French Revolutionary
Calendar was a calendar created and implemented during the French
Revolution, and used by the French government for about 12 years
from late 1793 to 1805, and for 18 days by the Paris Commune in
1871. The new system was designed in part to remove all religious and
royalist influences from the calendar, and was part of a larger attempt
at decimalisation in France.
Overview and origins
French Republican Calendar of 1794, drawn by
Philibert-Louis Debucourt.
History
The days of the French Revolution and Republic saw many efforts to
sweep away various trappings of the ancien régime; some of these
were more successful than others. The new Republican government
sought to institute, among other reforms, a new social and legal
system, a new system of weights and measures (which became the
metric system), and a new calendar. Amid nostalgia for the ancient
Roman Republic, the theories of the Enlightenment were at their peak,
and the devisors of the new systems looked to nature for their
inspiration. Natural constants, multiples of ten, and Latin derivations
formed the fundamental blocks from which the new systems were
built.
The new calendar was created by a commission under the direction of
the politician Charles Gilbert Romme seconded by Claude Joseph
A copy of the French Republican Calendar in the
Ferry and Charles-François Dupuis. They associated with their work
Historical Museum of Lausanne.
the chemist Louis-Bernard Guyton de Morveau, the mathematician and
astronomer Joseph-Louis Lagrange, the astronomer Joseph Jérôme
Lefrançois de Lalande, the mathematician Gaspard Monge, the astronomer and naval geographer Alexandre Guy
Pingré, and the poet, actor and playwright Fabre d'Églantine, who invented the names of the months, with the help of
André Thouin, gardener at the Jardin des Plantes of the Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle in Paris. As the
rapporteur of the commission, Charles-Gilbert Romme presented the new calendar to the Jacobin-controlled National
Convention on 23 September 1793, which adopted it on 24 October 1793 and also extended it proleptically to its
epoch of 22 September 1792. It is because of his position as rapporteur of the commission that the creation of the
republican calendar is attributed to Romme.[1]
French Republican Calendar
2
The name "French Revolutionary Calendar" refers to the fact that the calendar was created during the Revolution,
but is somewhat of a misnomer. Indeed, there was initially a debate as to whether the calendar should celebrate the
Revolution, i.e., 1789, or the Republic, i.e., 1792.[2] Immediately following 14 July 1789, papers and pamphlets
started calling 1789 year I of Liberty and the following years II and III. It was in 1792, with the practical problem of
dating financial transactions, that the legislative assembly was confronted with the problem of the calendar.
Originally, the choice of epoch was either 1 January 1789 or 14 July 1789. After some hesitation the assembly
decided on 2 January 1792 that all official documents would use the "era of Liberty" and that the year IV of Liberty
started on 1 January 1792. This usage was modified on 22 September 1792 when the Republic was proclaimed and
the Convention decided that all public documents would be dated Year I of the French Republic. The decree of 2
January 1793 stipulated that the year II of the Republic began on 1 January 1793. The establishment of the Republic
was also used for the final version of the calendar; therefore, the calendar commemorates the Republic, not the
Revolution. In France, it is known as the calendrier républicain as well as the calendrier révolutionnaire.
The Concordat of 1801 re-established the Roman Catholic Church in France with effect from Easter Sunday, 18
April 1802, restoring the names of the days of the week with the ones they had in the Gregorian Calendar, while
keeping the rest of the Republican Calendar, and fixing Sunday as the official day of rest and religious celebration.[3]
Napoléon finally abolished the calendar with effect from 1 January 1806 (the day after 10 Nivôse an XIV), a little
over twelve years after its introduction. However, it was used again during the brief Paris Commune, 6–23 May
1871 (16 Floréal–3 Prairial An LXXIX).
Many conversion tables and programs exist, largely created by genealogists. Some enthusiasts in France still use the
calendar, more out of historical re-enactment than practicality.
Some legal texts that were adopted when the Republican Calendar was official are still in force in France and even
Belgium (which was at the time incorporated into France), and have kept their original dates for citation purposes.
Calendar design
Years appear in writing as Roman numerals (usually), with epoch 22
September 1792, the beginning of the 'Republican Era' (the day the
French First Republic was proclaimed, one day after the Convention
abolished the monarchy). As a result, Roman Numeral I indicates the
first year of the republic, that is, the year before the calendar actually
came into use. The first day of each year was that of the Southward
equinox.
There were twelve months, each divided into three ten-day weeks
called décades. The tenth day, décadi, replaced Sunday as the day of
rest and festivity. The five or six extra days needed to approximate the
solar or tropical year were placed after the months at the end of each
year.
L AN 2 DE LA REPUBLIQUE FR. (Year 2 of
the French Republic) on a barn near Geneva
A period of four years ending on a leap day was to be called a "Franciade." The name "Olympique" was originally
proposed[4] but changed to Franciade to commemorate the fact that it had taken the revolution four years to establish
a republican government in France.[5]
The leap year was called Sextile, an allusion to the "bissextile" leap years of the Julian and Gregorian calendars,
because it contained a sixth complementary day.
French Republican Calendar
Decimal time
Each day in the Republican Calendar was divided into ten hours, each hour into 100 decimal minutes, and each
decimal minute into 100 decimal seconds. Thus an hour was 144 conventional minutes (more than twice as long as a
conventional hour), a minute was 86.4 conventional seconds (44% longer than a conventional minute), and a second
was 0.864 conventional seconds (13.6% shorter than a conventional second).
Clocks were manufactured to display this decimal time, but it did not catch on. Mandatory use of decimal time was
officially suspended 7 April 1795, although some cities continued to use decimal time as late as 1801.[6]
Months
The Republican calendar year began at the Southward equinox and had twelve months of 30 days each, which were
given new names based on nature, principally having to do with the prevailing weather in and around Paris.
• Autumn:
• Vendémiaire in French (from Latin vindemia, "grape harvest"), starting 22, 23 or 24 September
• Brumaire (from French brume, "fog"), starting 22, 23 or 24 October
• Frimaire (From French frimas, "frost"), starting 21, 22 or 23 November
• Winter:
• Nivôse (from Latin nivosus, "snowy"), starting 21, 22 or 23 December
• Pluviôse (from Latin pluvius, "rainy"), starting 20, 21 or 22 January
• Ventôse (from Latin ventosus, "windy"), starting 19, 20 or 21 February
• Spring:
• Germinal (from Latin germen, "germination"), starting 20 or 21 March
• Floréal (from Latin flos, "flower"), starting 20 or 21 April
• Prairial (from French prairie, "pasture"), starting 20 or 21 May
• Summer:
• Messidor (from Latin messis, "harvest"), starting 19 or 20 June
• Thermidor (or Fervidor) (from Greek thermon, "summer heat"), starting 19 or 20 July
• Fructidor (from Latin fructus, "fruit"), starting 18 or 19 August
Note: On many printed calendars of Year II (1793–94), the month of Thermidor was named Fervidor.
The English translations stated above are approximate, as most of the month names were new words coined from
French, Latin or Greek. The endings of the names are grouped by season. "Dor" means "giving" in Greek.[7]
In Britain, a contemporary wit mocked the Republican Calendar by calling the months: Wheezy, Sneezy and Freezy;
Slippy, Drippy and Nippy; Showery, Flowery and Bowery; Wheaty, Heaty and Sweety.[8] The Scottish historian
Thomas Carlyle suggested somewhat more serious English names in his 1837 work The French Revolution: A
History,[7] namely Vintagearious, Fogarious, Frostarious, Snowous, Rainous, Windous, Buddal, Floweral,
Meadowal, Reapidor, Heatidor, and Fruitidor. Like the French originals, they suggest a meaning related to the season
but are neologisms, rather than preexisting words.
3
French Republican Calendar
4
Ten days of the week
The month is divided into three décades or 'weeks' of ten days each,
named simply:
• primidi (first day)
• duodi (second day)
• tridi (third day)
• quartidi (fourth day)
• quintidi (fifth day)
• sextidi (sixth day)
• septidi (seventh day)
• octidi (eighth day)
• nonidi (ninth day)
• décadi (tenth day)
Décades were abandoned in Floréal an X (April 1802).[9]
Pocket watch with dodecacimal-based hours, and
days of the month and of the week in French
Republican Calendar. On display at Neuchâtel
Beaux-Arts museum.
Days of the year
Instead of most days having an associated saint as in the Roman Catholic calendar of saints, each day has an animal
(days ending in 5), a tool (days ending in 0) or else a plant or mineral (all other days).[10]
Autumn
Vendémiaire (22 September ~ 21 October) Brumaire (22 October ~ 20 November) Frimaire (21 November ~ 20 December)
•
Raisin (Grape)
•
Pomme (Apple)
•
Raiponce (Rampion)
•
Safran (Saffron)
•
Céleri (Celery)
•
Turneps (Turnip)
•
Châtaigne (Chestnut)
•
Poire (Pear)
•
Chicorée (Chicory)
•
Colchique (Crocus)
•
Betterave (Beet root)
•
Nèfle (Medlar)
•
Cheval (Horse)
•
Oie (Goose)
•
Cochon (Pig)
•
Balsamine (Impatiens)
•
Héliotrope (Heliotrope)
•
Mâche (Corn Salad)
•
Carotte (Carrot)
•
Figue (Common Fig)
•
Chou-fleur (Cauliflower)
•
Amaranthe (Amaranth)
•
Scorsonère (Black Salsify)
•
Miel (Honey)
•
Panais (Parsnip)
•
Alisier (Chequer Tree)
•
Genièvre (Juniper)
•
Cuve (Vat)
•
Charrue (Plough)
•
Pioche (Pickaxe)
•
Pomme de terre (Potato)
•
Salsifis (Salsify)
•
Cire (Wax)
•
Immortelle (Strawflower)
•
Mâcre (Water chestnut)
•
Raifort (Horseradish)
•
Potiron (Butter Squash)
•
Topinambour (Jerusalem Artichoke)
•
Cèdre (Cedar tree)
•
Réséda (Mignonette)
•
Endive (Endive)
•
Sapin (Fir tree)
•
Âne (Donkey)
•
Dindon (Turkey)
•
Chevreuil (Roe Deer)
•
Belle de nuit (The four o'clock flower)
•
Chervis (Skirret)
•
Ajonc (Gorse)
•
Citrouille (Pumpkin)
•
Cresson (Watercress)
•
Cyprès (Cypress Tree)
•
Sarrasin (Buckwheat)
•
Dentelaire (Leadworts)
•
Lierre (Ivy)
•
Tournesol (Sunflower)
•
Grenade (Pomegranate)
•
Sabine (Savin Juniper)
•
Pressoir (Wine-Press)
•
Herse (Harrow)
•
Hoyau (Grub-hoe)
•
Chanvre (Hemp)
•
Bacchante (Asarum baccharis)
•
Érable à sucre (Sugar Maple)
•
Pêche (Peach)
•
Azerole (Azarole)
•
Bruyère (Heather)
French Republican Calendar
5
•
Navet (Turnip)
•
Garance (Madder)
•
Roseau (Reed plant)
•
Amaryllis (Amaryllis)
•
Orange (Orange)
•
Oseille (Sorrel)
•
Bœuf (Ox)
•
Faisan (Pheasant)
•
Grillon (Cricket)
•
Aubergine (Eggplant)
•
Pistache (Pistachio)
•
Pignon (Pinenut)
•
Piment (Chili Pepper)
•
Macjonc (Tuberous pea)
•
Liège (Cork)
•
Tomate (Tomato)
•
Coing (Quince)
•
Truffe (Truffle)
•
Orge (Barley)
•
Cormier (Service tree)
•
Olive (Olive)
•
Tonneau (Barrel)
•
Rouleau (Roller)
•
Pelle (Shovel)
Winter
Nivôse (21 December ~ 19 January) Pluviôse (20 January ~ 18 February)
Ventôse (19 February ~ 20 March)
•
Tourbe (Peat)
•
Lauréole (Spurge-laurel)
•
Tussilage (Coltsfoot)
•
Houille (Coal)
•
Mousse (Moss)
•
Cornouiller (Dogwood)
•
Bitume (Bitumen)
•
Fragon (Butcher's Broom)
•
Violier (Matthiola)
•
Soufre (Sulphur)
•
Perce-neige (Snowdrop)
•
Troène (Privet)
•
Chien (Dog)
•
Taureau (Bull)
•
Bouc (Billygoat)
•
Lave (Lava)
•
Laurier-thym (Laurustinus)
•
Asaret (Wild Ginger)
•
Terre végétale (Topsoil)
•
Amadouvier (Tinder polypore)
•
Alaterne (Buckthorn)
•
Fumier (Manure)
•
Mézéréon (Daphne mezereum)
•
Violette (Violet (plant))
•
Salpêtre (Saltpeter)
•
Peuplier (Poplar Tree)
•
Marceau (Goat Willow)
•
Fléau (Flail)
•
Coignée (Axe)
•
Bêche (Spade)
•
Granit (Granite stone)
•
Ellébore (Hellebore)
•
Narcisse (Narcissus)
•
Argile (Clay)
•
Brocoli (Broccoli)
•
Orme (Elm Tree)
•
Ardoise (Slate)
•
Laurier (Laurel)
•
Fumeterre (Common fumitory)
•
Grès (Sandstone)
•
Avelinier (Filbert)
•
Vélar (Hedge Mustard)
•
Lapin (Rabbit)
•
Vache (Cow)
•
Chèvre (Goat)
•
Silex (Flint)
•
Buis (Box Tree)
•
Épinard (Spinach)
•
Marne (Marl)
•
Lichen (Lichen)
•
Doronic (Large-flowered Leopard's Bane)
•
Pierre à chaux (Limestone)
•
If (Yew tree)
•
Mouron (Pimpernel)
•
Marbre (Marble)
•
Pulmonaire (Lungwort)
•
Cerfeuil (Chervil)
•
Van (Winnowing basket)
•
Serpette (Billhook)
•
Cordeau (Twine)
•
Pierre à plâtre (Gypsum)
•
Thlaspi (Pennycress)
•
Mandragore (Mandrake)
•
Sel (Salt)
•
Thimelé (Rose Daphne)
•
Persil (Parsley)
•
Fer (Iron)
•
Chiendent (Couch Grass)
•
Cochléaria (Scurvy-grass)
•
Cuivre (Copper)
•
Trainasse (Common Knotgrass)
•
Pâquerette (Daisy)
•
Chat (Cat)
•
Lièvre (Hare)
•
Thon (Tuna)
•
Étain (Tin)
•
Guède (Woad)
•
Pissenlit (Dandelion)
•
Plomb (Lead)
•
Noisetier (Hazel)
•
Sylvie (Wood Anemone)
•
Zinc (Zinc)
•
Cyclamen (Cyclamen)
•
Capillaire (Maidenhair fern)
•
Mercure (Mercury (metal))
•
Chélidoine (Celandine)
•
Frêne (Ash Tree)
•
Crible (Sieve)
•
Traîneau (Sleigh)
•
Plantoir (Dibber)
French Republican Calendar
6
Spring
Germinal (21 March ~ 19 April)
Floréal (20 April ~ 19 May)
Prairial (20 May ~ 18 June)
•
Primevère (Primrose)
•
Rose (Rose)
•
Luzerne (Alfalfa)
•
Platane (Plane Tree)
•
Chêne (Oak Tree)
•
Hémérocalle (Daylily)
•
Asperge (Asparagus)
•
Fougère (Fern)
•
Trèfle (Clover)
•
Tulipe (Tulip)
•
Aubépine (Hawthorn)
•
Angélique (Angelica)
•
Poule (Hen)
•
Rossignol (Nightingale)
•
Canard (Duck)
•
Bette (Chard Plant)
•
Ancolie (Common Columbine)
•
Mélisse (Lemon Balm)
•
Bouleau (Birch Tree)
•
Muguet (Lily of the Valley)
•
Fromental (Oat grass)
•
Jonquille (Daffodil)
•
Champignon (Button mushroom) •
Martagon (Martagon lily)
•
Aulne (Alder)
•
Hyacinthe (Hyacinth)
•
Serpolet (Wild Thyme )
•
Couvoir (Hatchery)
•
Râteau (Rake)
•
Faux (Scythe)
•
Pervenche (Periwinkle)
•
Rhubarbe (Rhubarb)
•
Fraise (Strawberry)
•
Charme (Hornbeam)
•
Sainfoin (Sainfoin)
•
Bétoine (Woundwort)
•
Morille (Morel)
•
Bâton-d'or (Wallflower)
•
Pois (Pea)
•
Hêtre (European Beech Tree)
•
Chamerisier (Fan Palm tree)
•
Acacia (Acacia)
•
Abeille (Bee)
•
Ver à soie (Silkworm)
•
Caille (Quail)
•
Laitue (Lettuce)
•
Consoude (Comfrey)
•
Œillet (Carnation)
•
Mélèze (Larch)
•
Pimprenelle (Salad Burnet)
•
Sureau (Elderberry)
•
Ciguë (Hemlock)
•
Corbeille d'or (Basket of Gold)
•
Pavot (Poppy plant)
•
Radis (Radish)
•
Arroche (Orache)
•
Tilleul (Linden or Lime tree)
•
Ruche (Hive)
•
Sarcloir (Garden hoe)
•
Fourche (Pitchfork)
•
Gainier (Judas tree)
•
Statice (Thrift)
•
Barbeau (Cornflower)
•
Romaine (Lettuce)
•
Fritillaire (Fritillary)
•
Camomille (Camomile)
•
Marronnier (Horse chestnut)
•
Bourrache (Borage)
•
Chèvrefeuille (Honeysuckle)
•
Roquette (Arugula or Rocket) •
Valériane (Valerian)
•
Caille-lait (Bedstraw)
•
Pigeon (Pigeon)
•
Carpe (Carp)
•
Tanche (Tench)
•
Lilas (Lilac)
•
Fusain (Spindle (shrub))
•
Jasmin (Jasmine Plant)
•
Anémone (Anemone)
•
Civette (Chive)
•
Verveine (Verbena)
•
Pensée (Pansy)
•
Buglosse (Bugloss)
•
Thym (Thyme Plant)
•
Myrtille (Blueberry)
•
Sénevé (Wild mustard)
•
Pivoine (Peony Plant)
•
Greffoir (Knife)
•
Houlette (Shepherd's crook)
•
Chariot (Hand Cart)
Summer
Messidor (19 June ~ 18 July)
Thermidor (19 July ~ 17 August)
Fructidor (18 August ~ 16 September)
•
Seigle (Rye)
•
Épeautre (Spelt)
•
Prune (Plum)
•
Avoine (Oats)
•
Bouillon blanc (Common Mullein) •
Millet (Millet)
•
Oignon (Onion)
•
Melon (Melon)
•
Lycoperdon (Puffball)
•
Véronique (Speedwell)
•
Ivraie (Ryegrass)
•
Escourgeon (Six-row Barley)
•
Mulet (Mule)
•
Bélier (Ram)
•
Saumon (Salmon)
•
Romarin (Rosemary)
•
Prêle (Horsetail)
•
Tubéreuse (Tuberose)
•
Concombre (Cucumber)
•
Armoise (Mugwort)
•
Sucrion (Winter Barley)
•
Échalote (Shallot)
•
Carthame (Safflower)
•
Apocyn (Apocynum)
•
Absinthe (Wormwood)
•
Mûre (Blackberry)
•
Réglisse (Liquorice)
•
Faucille (Sickle)
•
Arrosoir (Watering Can)
•
Échelle (Ladder)
•
Coriandre (Coriander)
•
Panic (Switchgrass)
•
Pastèque (Watermelon)
•
Artichaut (Artichoke)
•
Salicorne (Common Glasswort)
•
Fenouil (Fennel)
•
Girofle (Clove)
•
Abricot (Apricot)
•
Épine vinette (Barberry)
French Republican Calendar
7
•
Lavande (Lavender)
•
Basilic (Basil)
•
Noix (Walnut)
•
Chamois (Chamois)
•
Brebis (Ewe)
•
Truite (Trout)
•
Tabac (Tobacco)
•
Guimauve (Marshmallow)
•
Citron (Lemon)
•
Groseille (Currant)
•
Lin (Flax)
•
Cardère (Teasel)
•
Gesse (Hairy Vetchling)
•
Amande (Almond)
•
Nerprun (Buckthorn)
•
Cerise (Cherry)
•
Gentiane (Gentian)
•
Tagette (Mexican Marigold)
•
Parc (Park)
•
Écluse (Lock)
•
Hotte (Harvesting basket)
•
Menthe (Mint)
•
Carline (Carline thistle)
•
Églantier (Wild Rose)
•
Cumin (Cumin)
•
Câprier (Caper)
•
Noisette (Hazelnut)
•
Haricot (Bean)
•
Lentille (Lentil)
•
Houblon (Hops)
•
Orcanète (Alkanet)
•
Aunée (Inula)
•
Sorgho (Sorghum)
•
Pintade (Guinea fowl)
•
Loutre (Otter)
•
Écrevisse (Crayfish)
•
Sauge (Sage Plant)
•
Myrte (Myrtle)
•
Bigarade (Bitter Orange)
•
Ail (Garlic)
•
Colza (Rapeseed)
•
Verge d'or (Goldenrod)
•
Vesce (Tare)
•
Lupin (Lupin)
•
Maïs (Maize or Corn)
•
Blé (Wheat)
•
Coton (Cotton)
•
Marron (Sweet Chestnut)
•
Chalémie (Shawm)
•
Moulin (Mill)
•
Panier (Pack Basket)
Complementary days
Five extra days – six in leap years – were national holidays at the end of every year. These were originally known as
les sans-culottides (after sans-culottes), but after year III (1795) as les jours complémentaires:
•
•
•
•
•
•
1st complementary day: La Fête de la Vertu, "Celebration of Virtue", on 17 or 18 September
2nd complementary day: La Fête du Génie, "Celebration of Talent", on 18 or 19 September
3rd complementary day: La Fête du Travail, "Celebration of Labour", on 19 or 20 September
4th complementary day: La Fête de l'Opinion, "Celebration of Convictions", on 20 or 21 September
5th complementary day: La Fête des Récompenses, "Celebration of Honors (Awards)", on 21 or 22 September
6th complementary day: La Fête de la Révolution, "Celebration of the Revolution", on 22 or 23 September (on
leap years only)
French Republican Calendar
8
Converting from the Gregorian Calendar
The calendar was abolished in the year XIV (1805). After this date,
opinions seem to differ on the method by which the leap years would
have been determined if the calendar were still in force. There are at
least four hypotheses used to convert dates from the Gregorian
calendar:
• The leap years would continue to vary in order to ensure that each
year the Southward equinox falls on 1 Vendémiaire, as was the case
from year I to year XIV. This is the only method that was ever in
legal effect, although it means that sometimes five years pass
between leap years.[11]
• The leap year would have jumped after year 15 to year 20, after
which a leap year would have fallen on each year divisible by four
(thus in 20, 24, 28…), except most century years, according to
Romme's proposed fixed rules. This would have simplified
conversions between the Republican and Gregorian calendars since
the Republican leap day would usually follow a few months after 29
February, at the end of each year divisible by four, so that the date
of the Republican New Year remains the same (22 September) in
the Gregorian calendar for the entire third century of the Republican
Era (AD 1992–2091).[12]
Fountain in Octon, Hérault with date 5 Ventôse
an 109 (24 February 1901)
• The leap years would have continued in a fixed rule every four years from the last one (thus years 15, 19, 23,
27…) with the leap day added before, rather than after, each year divisible by four, except most century years.
This rule has the advantage that it is both simple to calculate and is continuous with every year in which the
calendar was in official use during the First Republic. Some concordances were printed in France, after the
Republican Calendar was abandoned, using this rule to determine dates for long-term contracts.[13][14]
• Beginning with year 20, years divisible by four would be leap years, except for years divisible by 128. Remark,
that this rule was first proposed by von Mädler, not before the late 19th century. The date of the Republican New
Year remains the same (23 September) in the Gregorian calendar every year from 129 to 256 (AD
1920–2047).[15][16][17]
The following table shows when several years of the Republican Era begin on the Gregorian calendar, according to
each of the four above methods:
An
AD
Southward equinox
Romme
Continuous
128-Year
CCXX (220)
2011 23 September
22 September* 23 September
23 September*
CCXXI (221)
2012 22 September
22 September
22 September
23 September
CCXXII (222)
2013 22 September*
22 September
22 September
23 September
CCXXIII (223) 2014 23 September
22 September
22 September* 23 September
CCXXIV (224) 2015 23 September
22 September* 23 September
23 September*
CCXXV (225)
22 September
23 September
2016 22 September
* Leap year, extra day added at end of year
22 September
French Republican Calendar
9
Current date and time
220
Prairial
Primidi
Duodi
Tridi
Quartidi
Quintidi
Sextidi
Septidi
Octidi
Nonidi
Décadi
décade 25
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Saturday
19 May 2012
Sunday
20 May 2012
Monday
21 May 2012
Tuesday
22 May 2012
Wednesday
23 May 2012
Thursday
24 May 2012
Friday
25 May 2012
Saturday
26 May 2012
Sunday
27 May 2012
Monday
28 May 2012
CCXX
décade 26
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
Tuesday
29 May 2012
Wednesday
30 May 2012
Thursday
31 May 2012
Friday
1 June 2012
Saturday
2 June 2012
Sunday
3 June 2012
Monday
4 June 2012
Tuesday
5 June 2012
Wednesday
6 June 2012
Thursday
7 June 2012
décade 27
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
Friday
8 June 2012
0:10:13
Saturday
9 June 2012
Sunday
10 June 2012
Monday
11 June 2012
Tuesday
12 June 2012
Wednesday
13 June 2012
Thursday
14 June 2012
Friday
15 June 2012
Saturday
16 June 2012
:14:36
24 h
Sunday
17 June 2012
Criticism and shortcomings
Leap years in the calendar are a point of great dispute, due to the
contradicting statements in the establishing decree[18] stating:
Each year starts at midnight, with the day when the true
autumnal equinox falls for the observatory of Paris.
and:
The period of four years, at the end of which this addition of one
day is usually necessary, is called the Franciade...The fourth
year of the Franciade is called Sextile.
These two specifications are incompatible, as leap years defined by the
Southward equinox do not recur on a regular four year schedule. Thus,
the years III, VII, and XI were observed as leap years, and the years
XV and XX were also planned as such, even though they were five
years apart.
10 h
Clock dial.
French Republican Calendar
A fixed arithmetic rule for determining leap years was proposed in the
name of the Committee of Public Education by Gilbert Romme on
19 Floréal An III (8 May 1795). The proposed rule was to determine
leap years by applying the rules of the Gregorian calendar to the years
of the French Republic (years IV, VIII, XII, etc. were to be leap years)
except that year 4000 (the last year of ten 400-year periods) should be
a common year instead of a leap year. Because this proposal was never
adopted, the original astronomical rule continued, which excluded any
other fixed arithmetic rule. The proposal was intended to avoid
uncertain future leap years caused by the inaccurate astronomical
knowledge of the 1790s (even today, this statement is still valid due to
the uncertainty in ΔT). In particular, the committee noted that the true
Southward equinox of year 144 was predicted to occur at
"11:59:40 pm", which was closer to midnight than its inherent 3 to 4 minute uncertainty.
10
Clock dial.
The calendar was abolished because having a ten-day working week gave workers less rest (one day off every ten
instead of one day off every seven); because the Southward equinox was a mobile date to start every new year (a
fantastic source of confusion for almost everybody); and because it was incompatible with the secular rhythms of
trade fairs and agricultural markets.
Another criticism of the calendar was that despite the poetic names of its months, they are tied to the climate and
agriculture of France and therefore not applicable to France's overseas territories.
Apparently, the designers of the calendar were unaware of the possibility of a lunisolar calendar as their proposals do
not appear to make any mention of lunar months, lunisolar calendars, or of the Metonic cycle.[19] As a result the
Republican calendar, just like the Julian and Gregorian calendars, has months whose lengths only have a vestigial
relation to an actual physical phenomenon. This is inconsistent with Romme's assertion that the new calendar should
be faithful to natural cycles and should not perpetuate past mistakes:[4]
...reason demands that we follow nature rather than servilely continuing upon the erroneous path of our
predecessors...
The proposal for the new calendar is a litany of criticism of previous efforts, the previous quote of Romme being
representative. As another typical example is Romme's opinion about the nomenclature of the French Gregorian
calendar:[20]
This nomenclature is clearly a monument to servitude and ignorance, in which each successive civilization has
left an imprint of its impoverishment. The astrological names of the days of the week and their cabalistic order
which has been preserved since the first Egyptians and by the impostors which profited thereby and the
blindness of men who continually preferred to suffer rather than change any of the idiotic habits of their
fathers would dishonor our Revolution if we did not maintain the vigilance which has so successfully attacked
all preconceptions.
This tone sets a high standard by which the Republican calendar might itself be judged.
French Republican Calendar
11
Famous dates in the Republican Calendar and other cultural references
The "18 Brumaire" or "Brumaire" was the coup d'état of Napoleon
Bonaparte on 18 Brumaire An VIII (9 November 1799), which many
historians consider as the end of the French Revolution. Karl Marx'
1852 pamphlet The 18th Brumaire of Louis Napoléon compares the
1851 coup of Louis Napoléon to his uncle's earlier coup.
Another famous revolutionary date is 9 Thermidor An II (27 July
1794), the date the Convention turned against Robespierre, who, along
with others associated with the Mountain, was guillotined the
following day. Based on this event, the term "Thermidorian" entered
the Marxist vocabulary as referring to revolutionaries who destroy the
revolution from the inside and turn against its true aims. For example,
Leon Trotsky and his followers used this term about Joseph Stalin.
Décret de la Convention 9 Brumaire An III above
the entrance to the ENS.
Émile Zola's novel Germinal takes its name from the calendar.
The seafood dish lobster thermidor was probably named after the 1891 play Thermidor, set during the
Revolution.[21][22]
The French frigates of the Floréal class all bear names of Republican months.
The Convention of 9 Brumaire An III, 30 October 1794, established the École Normale Supérieure. The date appears
prominently on the entrance to the school.
The French composer Fromental Halévy was named after the feast day of 'Fromental' in the Revolutionary Calendar,
which occurred on his birthday in year VIII (27 May 1799).
References
[1] James Guillaume, Procès-verbaux du Comité d'instruction publique de la Convention nationale, t. I, pp. 227–228 et t. II, pp. 440–448 ;
Michel Froechlé, « Le calendrier républicain correspondait-il à une nécessité scientifique ? », Congrès national des sociétés savantes :
scientifiques et sociétés, Paris, 1989, pp. 453–465.
[2] Le Calendrier Républicain, Bureau des Longitudes, p. 19, Paris 1994, ISBN 2-910015-09-2
[3] "Concordat de 1801 Napoleon Bonaparte religion en france Concordat de 1801" (http:/ / www. roi-president. com/ bio/ bio-fait-Concordat de
1801. html). Roi-president.com. 21 November 2007. . Retrieved 30 January 2009.
[4] Rapport sur l'ère de la République, par G. Romme, Séance de la Convention nationale du 20 septembre 1793, Le Calendrier Républicain, p.
26, Bureau des Longitudes, Paris 1994, ISBN 2-910015-09-2
[5] Séance de la Convention nationale du 5 octobre 1793, Article X, Le Calendrier Républicain, p. 36, Bureau des Longitudes, Paris 1994, ISBN
2-910015-09-2. Reproduced in Généalogie et Histoire en France – French Genealogy & History (http:/ / www. gefrance. com/ calrep/ decrets.
htm)
[6] Richard A. Carrigan, Jr. "Decimal Time". American Scientist, (May–June 1978), 66(3): 305–313.
[7] Carlyle, Thomas. The French Revolution: A History (http:/ / books. google. com/ books?id=81sQAAAAYAAJ& lpg=PA294&
ots=6r7qN2pRQn& dq="Vintagearious& hl=fr& pg=PA294#v=onepage& q& f=false). 1837
[8] "The French Republican Calendar" (http:/ / www. bbc. co. uk/ dna/ h2g2/ A2903636#footnote4). BBC. . Retrieved 30 January 2009.
[9] Antoine Augustin Renouard (1822). Manuel pour la concordance des calendriers républicain et grégorien (http:/ / books. google. com/
?id=oUoMAAAAIAAJ& pg=PR5& vq=Floréal) (2 ed.). . Retrieved 14 September 2009.
[10] Bouillet, Marie-Nicolas (1865). Atlas universel d'histoire et de géographie (http:/ / books. google. fr/ books?id=fOgOAAAAQAAJ&
pg=PA68#v=onepage& q& f=false). 1. Paris: Hachette. pp. 68–69.
[11] Sébastien Louis Rosaz (1810). Concordance de l'Annuaire de la République française avec le calendrier grégorien (http:/ / books. google.
com/ books?id=Aec6AAAAcAAJ). .
[12] "Brumaire – Calendrier Républicain" (http:/ / prairial. free. fr/ calendrier/ calendrier. php?lien=discoursromme). Prairial.free.fr. . Retrieved
30 January 2009.
[13] Antoine Augustin Renouard (1822). Manuel pour la concordance des calendriers républicain et grégorien: ou, Recueil complet de tous les
annuaires depuis la première année républicaine (http:/ / books. google. com/ ?id=oUoMAAAAIAAJ& pg=RA1-PR9&
lpg=RA1-PR9#PRA24-PA183,M1) (2 ed.). .
French Republican Calendar
[14] "Brumaire – Calendrier Républicain" (http:/ / prairial. free. fr/ calendrier/ calendrier. php?lien=manuel-eng). Prairial.free.fr. . Retrieved 30
January 2009.
[15] http:/ / personal. telefonica. terra. es/ web/ jlmartinmas/ repcalendar/ calendar. html
[16] "Calendars" (http:/ / www. projectpluto. com/ calendar. htm#republican). Projectpluto.com. . Retrieved 30 January 2009.
[17] "The French Revolutionary Calendar , Calendars" (http:/ / webexhibits. org/ calendars/ calendar-french. html). Webexhibits.org. . Retrieved
30 January 2009.
[18] "Le Calendrier Republicain" (http:/ / www. gefrance. com/ calrep/ decrets. htm). Gefrance.com. . Retrieved 30 January 2009.
[19] Le Calendrier Républicain, Bureau des Longitudes, Paris 1994, ISBN 2-910015-09-2
[20] Rapport sur l'ère de la République, par G. Romme, Séance de la Convention nationale du 20 septembre 1793,Le Calendrier Républicain, p.
27, Bureau des Longitudes, Paris 1994, ISBN 2-910015-09-2
[21] James, Kenneth (2006-11-15). Escoffier: The King of Chefs (http:/ / books. google. com/ books?id=JFIDd639wlQC& pg=PA44). Continuum
International Publishing Group. p. 44. ISBN 978-1-85285-526-0. . Retrieved 11 March 2012.
[22] "Lobster thermidor" (http:/ / www. merriam-webster. com/ dictionary/ lobster thermidor). Online Dictionary. Merriam-Webster. . Retrieved
11 March 2012.
Further reading
• Ozouf, Mona, 'Revolutionary Calendar' in Furet, François and Mona Ozouf, eds., Critical Dictionary of the
French Revolution (1989)
• Shaw, Matthew, Time and the French Revolution: a history of the French Republican Calendar, 1789-Year XIV
(2011)
External links
• Antique Decimal Watches (http://www.antiquorum.com/html/vox/vox2004/revolutionary.htm)
• Date converter for numerous calendars, including this one (http://www.calendarhome.com/converter)
• Dials & Symbols of the French revolution. The Republican Calendar and Decimal time. (http://www.
antique-horology.org/_Editorial/RepublicanCalendar/default.htm)
• Republican calendar page, with an alternative Dashboard's widget (http://personal.telefonica.terra.es/web/
jlmartinmas/repcalendar/calendar.html)
• The Republican Calendar and Decimal time online (http://www.shtukoviny.ru/calendar/index.html)
• Brumaire – The Republican Calendar, with Windows and Mac OS X applications, including a Dashboard's
widget. (http://prairial.free.fr/calendrier/calendrier.php?lien=sommaireen) (fr es en eo pt de nl)
• Républican calendars (http://www.rondelot.com/spip.php?article43) (French)
12
Article Sources and Contributors
Article Sources and Contributors
French Republican Calendar Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=492236963 Contributors: 19.168, ABCD, Absecon 59, Adam keller, AdamB, Aesopos, Alex S, Alfion,
Altenmann, Amboisvert, Amire80, Ams80, Amsol46, AnonMoos, Arasaka, Arnapha, Arsene, Attilios, Autopilot, B4hand, Balabiot, Ben-w, Bennie Noakes, Big Axe, Binmath88, Bmschmidt,
Boredzo, BrainyBroad, Briaboru, Brion VIBBER, Bryan Derksen, Caerwine, Carabinieri, CarolGray, Casliber, Cavrdg, CharleBernardo, CharlesMartel, Charvex, Chinasaur, Chris the speller,
ClairSamoht, Coemgenus, Conversion script, Cyde, DabMachine, Dana boomer, Daniel Olsen, Darkwind, David.Monniaux, Dcfleck, Deaconse, Den fjättrade ankan, Dewritech, Diosec,
Divadwg, Don4of4, Dralwik, Duckdude255, DukeGonzo, Dvyost, EamonnPKeane, Eb.hoop, Edgar181, Editor2020, Eldamorie, Em Mitchell, Error, EvanProdromou, Fajro, Fanghong, Fenice,
Fodrobi, Fram, Frania Wisniewska, Friman, Future Perfect at Sunrise, Gadfium, Gilliam, Gluck 123, Ground Zero, HTML2011, Hamiltondaniel, Hcovitz, Hethurs, HiFiGuy, Horologium, Ilanpi,
Itai, Iustinus, J.delanoy, J04n, JOHNDOE, JPD, JamesAM, Jcmo, Jhbadger, Jmabel, Jmfayard, Jnestorius, Joe Kress, John Barleycorn's Revenge, John Price, Johnpacklambert, JonHarder,
JorgeGG, Joseph Solis in Australia, Jpers36, Karl Palmen, Kdau, Keenan Pepper, Kesla, Kpalion, Leandrod, LexTH, Lexicon, Likethewatch, LilHelpa, Lima, Lmaltier, Lockesdonkey, Longhair,
Looxix, MPF, Magog the Ogre 2, Maximaximax, Mbcmf217, McSly, MeltBanana, Menchi, Methegreat, MetsFan76, Mick2mor, Mikhail Petin, Mjs110, Modeha, Molly-in-md, Monedula,
Moominmolly, Morwen, Munarix, Mwazzap, Mycroft7, NYArtsnWords, Naddy, Nae'blis, Nagy, Napfisk, Naufana, Neil.steiner, Nik42, Nike, O1ive, Ohconfucius, Olivier, Ortolan88, P0mbal,
Paul Drye, Paxse, Pedant, Pekinensis, Percy Snoodle, Peter 2005, Peter Horn, PeterHuntington, Petri Krohn, Peyre, Pgan002, Phantomsteve, Piere bagins, PierreAbbat, Piledhigheranddeeper,
Pipian, Plrk, Pmanderson, Pmsyyz, Pollinator, Pt, QuartierLatin1968, R'n'B, RSM, Rama, RandomP, Rbraunwa, Rich Farmbrough, Rigadoun, Rizome, Rjakew, Rjwilmsi, Roadrunner, Rodemont,
Rollo, RoseWill, Rosuna, RoySmith, SBlanc, SFC9394, Sabbut, Saga City, Sandstein, Scartboy, Scirocco6, SigPig, SimonTrew, Sjtaunton, Smerus, Smjg, Spino, Spot87, Sprocketeer, Squell,
Steinbach, Stemonitis, Stephenchou0722, SteveStrummer, Switchercat, TOttenville8, Tabor, Tamfang, Tarquin, Ted Ted, Tedernst, Template namespace initialisation script, Terabyte, The wub,
Themastergee, Thumperward, Tpbradbury, Traal, TutterMouse, TwoOneTwo, Typofixer76, Tyrenius, Una Smith, Urhixidur, Utopian reverie, Vanisaac, Vasile, VeryVerily, Vgent, Vigilius,
Vis-a-visconti, Vladdraculdragon, Vystrix Nexoth, WLU, WarthogDemon, Wavelength, Wolsunger, Writtenright, Xanzzibar, Xn4, Yvesnimmo, ZanderSchubert, Zdravko mk, Ziggurat, Zoe,
Zzyzx11, 196 anonymous edits
Image Sources, Licenses and Contributors
Image:Calendrier-republicain-debucourt2.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Calendrier-republicain-debucourt2.jpg License: Public Domain Contributors: Dahn,
Rama, TheJH, Ultimate Destiny
Image:Musee-historique-lausanne-img 0143.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Musee-historique-lausanne-img_0143.jpg License: Creative Commons
Attribution-Sharealike 2.0 Contributors: User:Rama
File:French revolutionary date.JPG Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:French_revolutionary_date.JPG License: Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 3.0
Contributors: Divadwg
File:Montre revolutionnaire-IMG 4629-black.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Montre_revolutionnaire-IMG_4629-black.jpg License: Creative Commons
Attribution-Sharealike 2.0 Contributors: &
File:Fontaine d'Octon.JPG Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Fontaine_d'Octon.JPG License: Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 3.0,2.5,2.0,1.0 Contributors:
Olevy
Image:Prairial.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Prairial.jpg License: Public Domain Contributors: Man vyi, Thuresson, Wart Dark, Wastingmytime, 2 anonymous
edits
Image:Horloge-republicaine1.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Horloge-republicaine1.jpg License: Public Domain Contributors: Forrester, Future Perfect at Sunrise,
Jcb, Lipedia, Mattes, Peter Isotalo, Pieter Kuiper, Rama, RighterCopy, Roomba, Wst, 4 anonymous edits
Image:Horloge-republicaine2.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Horloge-republicaine2.jpg License: Public Domain Contributors: CopyRighter, Dahn, Future Perfect
at Sunrise, Lipedia, Rama, RighterCopy, Wst, 3 anonymous edits
File:Ecole normale supérieure 2.JPG Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Ecole_normale_supérieure_2.JPG License: Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike
3.0,2.5,2.0,1.0 Contributors: Ordifana75
License
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported
//creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
13