Ventôse

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Allegory, Salvatore Tresca (after Laffitte).
Allegory, Salvatore Tresca (after Laffitte).

Ventôse (also Ventose) was the sixth month in the French Republican Calendar. The month was named after the Latin word ventosus, which means wind.

Ventôse was the third month of the winter quarter (mois d'hiver). It started between February 19 and February 21. It ended between March 20 and March 21. It follows the Pluviôse and precedes the Germinal.

The new names for the calendar were suggested by Fabre d'Églantine on October 24, 1793. On November 24 the National Convention accepted the names with minor changes. So it was decided to omit the circumflex (accent circonflexe) in the names of the winter monthes. So the month was named Ventose instead of Ventôse. Historiography still prefers the spelling Ventôse.

[edit] Day Name Table

Like all FRC monthes Ventôse lasted 30 days and was divided into three 10-day weeks called décades (decades). Every day had the name of an agricultural plant, except the 5th (Quintidi) and 10th day (Decadi) of every decade, which had the name of a domestic animal (Quintidi) or an agricultural tool (Decadi).


  1re Décade 2e Décade 3e Décade
Primidi 1. Tussilage (Coltsfoot) 11. Narcisse (Narcissus) 21. Mandragore (Mandrake)
Duodi 2. Cornouiller (Dogwood) 12. Orme (Elm) 22. Percil (Parsley)
Tridi 3. Viollier (Stock) 13. Fumeterre (Fumitory) 23. Cochléria (Scurvygrass)
Quartidi 4. Troëne (Privet) 14. Vélar (Hedge Mustard) 24. Pâquerette (Daisy)
Quintidi 5. Bouc (Billygoat) 15. Chèvre (Goat) 25. Thon (Tuna)
Sextidi 6. Asaret (Wild Ginger) 16. Epinard (Spinach) 26. Pissenlit (Dandelion)
Septidi 7. Alaterne (Evergreen Buckthorn) 17. Doronic (Leopard's Bane) 27. Sylvie (Anemone)
Octidi 8. Violette (Violet) 18. Mouron (Pimpernel) 28. Capillaire (Maidenhair Fern)
Nonidi 9. Marceau (Willow) 19. Cerfeuil (Chervil) 29. Frêne (Ash Tree)
Decadi 10. Bêche (Spade) 20. Cordeau (Twine) 30. Plantoir (Dibble)

[edit] Conversion Table

Table for conversion between Republican and Gregorian Calendar
for the month "Ventôse"
I. II. III. V. VI. VII.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
February 1793 1794 1795 1797 1798 1799 March
IV.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
February 1796 March
VIII. IX. X. XI. XIII.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21
February 1800 1801 1802 1803 1805 March
XII.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21
February 1804 March

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