Did you know that during the Napoleonic wars most of Europe used the Gregorian calendar. However between 1792 and 1805 France used what was known as the Republican or Napoleonic Calendar. In this all the months were renamed and years began with the foundation of the Republic at An I or Year 1. All months had 30 days except the 12th month, which had 35 or 36 on a leap year. The Republican year ran from September to August with each month named according to the season.
I've been fascinated with this calendar ever since I saw the paintings of it in the Musée Carnavalet in Paris. So I thought it would be fun to re-produce my own 21st Century version using the colours of the vineyard year.
"VENDEMIARE"
September to October was referred to as Vendemiare meaning Vintage and the month of the wine harvest.
GOLDEN VENDEMIARE
"BRUMIARE"
October to November was renamed Brumiare meaning Fog.
GREY BRUMIARE
"FRIMAIRE"
November to December was called Frimaire meaning Frost. Brrhh...
"NIVOSE"
December to January became known as Nivose meaning Snow. Brrhhhhh...
"PLUVIOSE"
SILVER FRIMAIRE
"NIVOSE"
December to January became known as Nivose meaning Snow. Brrhhhhh...
WHITE NIVOSE
January to February was Pluviose meaning Rain. Sums up a dreary cold month...
BROWN PLUVIOSE
"MESSIDOR"
"VENTOSE"
February to March became Ventose meaning Wind. My least favourite month and difficult to reproduce as a colour so I have called it opaque as by the end of March the sap should be rising on the pruned vines.
March to April was declared Germinal meaning Budding. Surprisingly in this month the little buds start to appear on the vines. From now on the vineyards start to come out of their winter dormancy and gradually more colour will start to appear in the vineyards.
April to May was considered as Floreal meaning FLOWERING. The month the little flowers start to appear on the vines. A period call floraison.
May to June was considered as Prairial meaning Meadows. The fields around the vineyards are starting to fill with colour now especially the rose fields.
OPAQUE VENTOSE
"GERMINAL"
March to April was declared Germinal meaning Budding. Surprisingly in this month the little buds start to appear on the vines. From now on the vineyards start to come out of their winter dormancy and gradually more colour will start to appear in the vineyards.
GRIS GERMINAL
"FLOREAL"
April to May was considered as Floreal meaning FLOWERING. The month the little flowers start to appear on the vines. A period call floraison.
GREEN FLORIAL
"PRAIRIAL"
May to June was considered as Prairial meaning Meadows. The fields around the vineyards are starting to fill with colour now especially the rose fields.
RAINBOW PRAIRIAL
June to July was described as Messidor meaning Harvest. The cereal fields are starting to be harvested. Sue even went up in a microlite to catch this shot!
BEIGE MESSIDOR
"THERMIDOR"
July to August was designated Thermidor meaning Heat. Orange like a lobster thermidor?
ORANGE THERMIDOR
"FRUCTIDOR"
August to September was named Fructidor meaning Fruit.
PURPLE FRUCTIDOR
OTHER COLOURS OF THE VINEYARDS
OTHER COLOURS OF THE VINEYARDS
BRIGHT GREEN
BRIGHT YELLOW
BRIGHT RED
RUSSET
BLUE
BLUE
The calendar lasted for 13 years before being returned to the Gregorian Calender in 1806 by Napoleon Bonaparte.
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