#decimal time

1 Vendémiare, year one, otherwise known as September 22, 1792, marked the beginning of the French Revolutionary Calendar; which was in use from 15 Vendémiare, year two to 22 Fructidor, year nine (1793-1805).

Today (March 1st, 2020) is 12 Ventôse, year 228.

Mois - Months

Each month lasted 30 days; autumn months ended in -miare, Winter months ended in -ôse, spring months ended in -al, and summer months ended in -idor

Vendémiare- September 22nd - October 21st

   ♥ le vendange- wine harvest

Brumaire- 22nd October - November 20th

    ♥le brume- fog

Frimaire- November 21st - December 20th

    ♥les frimas (m)- wintry weather (old fashioned)

Nivôse- December 21th - January 19th

    ♥ from the latin nivosus for snow (la neige)

Pluviôse- January 20th - February 18th

    ♥la pluie- rain

Ventôse- February 19th - March 20th

    ♥le vent- wind

Germinal- March 21st - April 19th

    ♥la germination- germination

Floréal- April 20th - May 19th

    ♥la fleur

Prairial- May 20th - June 18th

    ♥la prairie- prairie, meadow

Messidor- June 19th - July 18th

    ♥la moisson- wheat harvest

Thermidor- July 19th - August 17th

    ♥from the greek thermos, for hot (chaud)

Fructidor- August 18 - September 16th

    ♥le fruit- fruit

5 days were added at the end of the year, or six every six years

Minutes were 100 seconds, hours were 100 minutes, and days were 10 hours, 0 being midnight, and 5 being noon. Each week, or décade, was ten days long. These days were Primidi, Duodi, Tridi, Quartidi, Quintidi, Sextidi, Septidi, Octidi, Nonidi, and Décadi.

To replace Saint’s days, each day of the year was given the name of a plant, animal, or crop. (my birthday is named after a type of barley). 

It was common practice to name babies after the saint on whose day they were born or baptized before the revolution. (I would be Louise lol)

After the revolution a few people began using the revolutionary calendar to name their kids. Most of these fell out of usage but some still exist to this day. (Amande, Eglantine, Jasmine). Mine would be something like Sucrionne?

I remember once wondering why nobody had ever decimalised time, but it turns out it has been tried several times, particularly by the French. Sadly, it never caught on, and as a result, we are left with 60 seconds, 60 minutes, 24 hours, 7 days, a range of 28,29,30,31 days in a month and 12 months in a year. 

Each day was divided into 10 hours, each of which was divided into 100 minutes, each having 100 seconds.