                    The French Revolutionary Calendar

           by Hans Rollmann (St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada)
    (adapted from Albert Soboul: DIE GROSSE FRANZ. REVOLUTION [1983])

The French Republican or Revolutionary Calendar is of some significance 
for genealogists in that it was used not only in the French official 
records for the years 1793 - 1805 but also in the German territories to 
the left of the Rhine, including by parish priests in their baptismal, 
marriage and burial records.  

1. The calendar was officially used from 22 Sept. 1793 (=1 Vendemiaire 
II) until the end of the year 1805 (= 11 Ventose XIV); 

2. The Republican year started always on 22 September (Gregorian) and 
came to a close after 12 months (of 30 days) on 16 Sept. of the following 
(Gregorian) year; 

3. The remaining 5 days (from 17-21 Sept. [Gregorian]) were added as 
"jours sansculottides" 1[17 Sept.], 2[18 Sept.], 3[19 Sept.], 4[20 
Sept.], 5[21 Sept.]; 

4. During the leap years 1796, 1800, 1804, an additional "jour 
complementaire" was added. 

Months:
Vendemiaire (1-30) = 22 Sept.-21 Oct.
Brumaire (1-30) = 22 Oct.-20 Nov.
Frimaire (1-30) = 21 Nov.-20 Dec.
Nivose (1-30) = 21 Dec.-19 Jan.
Pluviose (1-30) = 20 Jan.-18 Feb.
Ventose (1-30) = 19 Feb.-20 March
Germinal (1-30) = 21 March-19 Apr.
Floreal (1-30) = 20 April-19 May
Prairial (1-30) = 20 May-18 June
Messidor (1-30) = 19 June-18 July
Thermidor (1-30) = 19 July-17 Aug.
Fructidor (1-30) = 18 Aug.-16 Sept.
Jours sansculottides = 17 Sept.-21 Sept.
(don't forget the Jour compementaire in the leap years 1796, 1800, 1804). 
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