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Article: An Irishman's Diary
- Article from:
- The Irish Times
- Article date:
- September 18, 2009
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright 2009 The Irish Times. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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MAD AS the leaders of the French Revolution were, in many
respects, they at least had a point in decreeing that the year
should begin and end in mid-September.
In fact, under their partially decimalised and wholly secular
calendar, which abolished Sundays (and weeks) in favour of having 12
30-day months comprising three 10-day "decades" each, we would
currently be in something of a hiatus.
Revolutionary Year 218 would have ended on Wednesday last -
Fructidor 30th (Month of Fruits) - while Year 219 would not start
until next Tuesday: Vendemiaire 1st (Month of Harvest), the autumn
equinox.
The five left-over days -- six in a leap-year -- were initially
known as the "Sans-Culottides", in honour ...