French Calendars

Vendémiaire (vintage) - Sept. 22 - Oct. 21 Brumaire (fog) - Oct. 22 - Nov. 20 Frimaire (frost) - Nov. 21 - Dec. 20 Nivôse (snowy) - Dec. 21 - Jan. 19 Pluviôse (rainy) - Jan 20 - Feb. 18 Ventôse (windy) - Feb. 19 - March 20 Germinal (sprouting bud) - March 21 - April 19 Floréal (flowery) - April 20 - May 19 Prairial (meadow) - May 20 - June 18 Messidor (harvest) - June 19 - July 18 Thermidor (heat) - July 19 - Aug. 17 Fructidor (fruit) - Aug. 18 - Sept. 16

Not only was each month in the French Republican Calendar named for natural themes, but each day of the year was also given a unique name. The "complementary days" (jours complémentaires ) at the end of the year were feast days, named in honor of Virtue, Genius, Labor, Opinion and Rewards. During leap year the additional day was called Revolution. Years in the Republican Calendar were counted from the founding of the French Republic on 22 September 1792. Therefore, year one (I) was 1792, year two (II) was 1793, through to year thirteen (XIII) in 1804. Since the French Republican calendar was not established by law until 5 October 1793, year one was never actually used at all.