Revolutionary Calendar

A calendar introduced to replace the Gregorian calendar during the revolutionary period.

The Revolutionary Calendar was established in France on 24 October 1793 (3 Brumaire year II) as part of the efforts to secularize and transform French society during the French Revolution. It consisted of 12 months, each with 30 days, followed by a period of 5 or 6 additional days known as 'sans-culottides' (days outside the months designated for special observances). Each month was named to reflect the nature of seasonal changes, including months like 'Vendémiaire' (grape harvest), 'Brumaire' (fog), and 'Nivôse' (snow). The days of the week were abolished in favor of a ten-day 'décade' system. The calendar aimed to diminish the influence of the Catholic Church and promote a new sense of time in line with revolutionary values. It was officially used until 1 January 1806 (12 Nivôse year XIV) when it was discontinued by Napoleon Bonaparte.

The Revolutionary Calendar (or French Republican Calendar) was introduced during the French Revolution to reflect the new era of liberty and reason, breaking away from the Christian Gregorian calendar. It was officially adopted on 5 October 1793 but was retroactively applied from 22 September 1792, the founding date of the French Republic. This calendar was designed to remove all religious and royalist influences from the calendar.

The Revolutionary Calendar was divided into twelve months of 30 days each, with five or six additional days called "sans-culottides" added at the end of the year to align with the solar year. Each month was divided into three ten-day weeks known as "décades," with the tenth day, "décadi," serving as a day of rest (which replaced the traditional Sunday).

Each month in the Revolutionary Calendar was given a name reflective of the season and nature, such as "Vendémiaire" (vintage month), "Brumaire" (fog month), and "Frimaire" (frost month) for the autumn months. Winter months included "Nivôse" (snowy month), "Pluviôse" (rainy month), and "Ventôse" (windy month). Spring months were "Germinal" (seed month), "Floréal" (flower month), and "Prairial" (meadow month). The summer months concluded with "Messidor" (harvest month), "Thermidor" (heat month), and "Fructidor" (fruit month).

The Revolutionary Calendar also abolished the seven-day week in favor of the ten-day "décade" to de-emphasize religious observances and reduce the number of rest days, which was aimed at increasing productivity. However, this change in the weekly cycle caused significant disruption for the populace, who were accustomed to the traditional rhythm of the Gregorian week.

Each day of the month was named after agricultural products, tools, or plants, each representing the typical characteristics of that period of the year. For instance, days within the month "Floréal" were named for items such as "La Rose" (rose), "L'Aneth" (dill), and "Le Serpolet" (wild thyme).

Despite its revolutionary ideals, the calendar proved to be impractical for many aspects of daily and commercial life. The Revolutionary Calendar faced resistance from various sectors of society, including farmers, business people, and the general public. The link between the calendar and the agricultural cycle, while conceptually rational, brought about practical issues in its adoption and integration.

The Revolutionary Calendar was finally abolished by Napoleon on 1 January 1806, and France reverted to the Gregorian Calendar. The Revolutionary Calendar remains a historical artifact of the intense desire for transformation and the secularization of French society during the period of the French Revolution.

Did you know?

The Revolutionary Calendar was officially adopted on 24 October 1793 and was used to replace the Gregorian calendar; it emphasized a break from the past.
Each month in the Revolutionary Calendar had 30 days and was divided into three ten-day weeks (called 'décades'), which altered the traditional seven-day week that was common in France.
The year began not in January but on 22 September, which marked the autumn equinox (considered the start of a new era reflecting the revolutionary ideals).
Months were named after natural elements and agricultural themes; for instance, 'Nivôse' (from Latin for 'snowy') corresponded to December-January, while 'Thermidor' (meaning 'heat') referred to July-August.
The calendar was intended to promote rationalism and secularism, removing religious connotations; for example, Sunday was replaced with décade as a day of rest, furthering the revolution's anti-clerical stance.
Despite its ambitious introduction, the Revolutionary Calendar faced widespread confusion and was eventually abolished in 1806, returning to the Gregorian system, but it briefly left a legacy in the way time was perceived.
The year in the Revolutionary Calendar was denoted as 1, 2, 3... instead of AD or any recognizable dating, showing a desire for a fresh start free from monarchy's influence.