Pluviôse

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Allegory, unknown author.

Pluviôse (also Pluviose) was the fifth month in the French Republican Calendar. The month was named after the Latin word pluviosus, which means rainy.

Pluviôse was the second month of the winter quarter (mois d'hiver). It started between January 20 and January 22. It ended between February 18 and February 20. It follows the Nivôse and precedes the Ventôse.

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 Pluviose instead of Pluviôse. Historiography still prefers the spelling Pluviôse.

[edit] Day Name Table

Like all FRC months Pluviôse lasted 30 days and was divided into 3 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).

	1^re Décade		2^e Décade		3^e Décade
Primidi	1.	Lauréole (Spurge Laurel)	11.	Ellébore (Hellebore)	21.	Thlaspi (Pennycress)
Duodi	2.	Mousse (Moss)	12.	Brocoli (Broccoli)	22.	Thimelé (Rose Daphne)
Tridi	3.	Fragon (Butcher's Broom)	13.	Laurier (Laurel)	23.	Chiendent (Couchgrass)
Quartidi	4.	Perce Neige (Snowdrop)	14.	Avelinier (Cobnut)	24.	Traînasse (Knotweed)
Quintidi	5.	Taureau (Bull)	15.	Vache (Cow)	25.	Lièvre (Hare)
Sextidi	6.	Laurier Thym (Bay Thyme)	16.	Buis (Boxwood)	26.	Guèdre (Dyer's Woad)
Septidi	7.	Amadouvier (Tinder Fungus)	17.	Lichen (Iceland Moss)	27.	Noisetier (Hazelnut)
Octidi	8.	Mézéréon (February Daphne)	18.	If (Yew)	28.	Cyclamen (Sowbread)
Nonidi	9.	Peuplier (Poplar)	19.	Pulmonaire (Lungwort)	29.	Chélidoine (Celandine)
Decadi	10.	Coignée (Hatchet)	20.	Serpette (Pruning Knife)	30.	Traineau (Sleigh)