Fabre d’Eglantine and the Revolutionary Calendar

If you have studied French, then you are familiar with the words for the months of the year: Janvier, Février, Mars, etc. Starting in 1792, these words disappeared from the French language!

During the French Revolution, symbolism became paramount and the Gregorian calendar was too full of religious references for its won good! So a poet was asked to come up with names for the new Republican Calendar! And so the months were now “Floréal” (period of flowers); “Thermidor” (hot period); Brumaire (foggy period); “Pluviôse” (rainy period)…

On 5th April 1794, poet Fabre d’Eglantine who had penned these words was executed. Isn’t it fascinating that during the Reign of Terror, the same government that was “purifying” the country with the guillotine, also wanted the months name to be poetic… Aww… The French are so romantic!