"The Republican calendar year began at the autumn 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"We are now in Brumaire (brume = "fog").
In Britain, people mocked the Republican Calendar by calling the months: Wheezy, Sneezy and Freezy; Slippy, Drippy and Nippy; Showery, Flowery and Bowery; Wheaty, Heaty and Sweety.So November would be "Sneezy."
Each day was then associated with "an animal (days ending in 5), a tool (days ending in 0) or else a plant or mineral (all other days)."
Here are the days of Brumaire (~22 October to ~20 November)
- Pomme (Apple)
- Céleri (Celery)
- Poire (Pear)
- Betterave (Beet root)
- Oie (Goose)
- Héliotrope (Heliotrope)
- Figue (Fig)
- Scorsonère (Black Salsify)
- Alisier (Chequer Tree)
- Charrue (Plough)
- Salsifis (Salsify)
- Macre (Water chestnut)
- Topinambour (Jerusalem Artichoke)
- Endive (Endive)
- Dindon (Turkey)
- Chervis (Skirret)
- Cresson (Watercress)
- Dentelaire (Leadworts)
- Grenade (Pomegranate)
- Herse (Harrow)
- Bacchante (Asarum baccharis)
- Azerole (Azarole)
- Garance (Madder)
- Orange (Orange)
- Faisan (Pheasant)
- Pistache (Pistachio)
- Macjonc (Tuberous pea)
- Coing (Quince)
- Cormier (Service tree)
- Rouleau (Roller)
Hat tip to nolandda for the idea. All info from Wikipedia, where you can look up all the other days
Did you know that during the revolution, many children were named after this calendar? Not only could you find children named Floréal, Brumaire, etc., but also Narcisse, Hyacinthe...
ReplyDeletePeople wanted to get away from the catholic institution, thus rejecting the catholic calendar and its names.
There is an interesting article there. It's in French, but you can get many information through an online translator.