Nivôse (; also Nivose) was the fourth month in the French Republican Calendar. The month was named after the Latin word nivosus 'snowy'.
Nivôse was the first month of the winter quarter (mois d'hiver). It started between 21 and 23 December. It ended between 19 and 21 January. It follows Frimaire and precedes Pluviôse.
The new names for the calendar were suggested by Fabre d'Églantine on 24 October 1793. On 24 November the National Convention accepted the names with minor changes. Because it was decided to omit the circumflex (accent circonflexe) in the names of the winter months, Nivose replaced Nivôse. Historiography still prefers the spelling Nivôse.
Day name table
Like all months in the French Republican Calendar, Nivôse lasted 30 days and was divided into three 10-day weeks called décades (decades). The 5th (Quintidi) day of every decade was named after a domestic animal, the 10th day (Decadi) after an agricultural tool (Decadi). Different from the other months the rest of the days were not named after an agricultural plant, but after a mineral or animal substance. Fabre d'Églantine says about this topic: "In Nivôse earth is sealed and usually covered with snow. At this time earth is resting and there are no herbal agriculture products to characterize this month. We rather took names of animal and mineral substances of agricultural use."
1re Décade 2e Décade 3e Décade Primidi 1. Tourbe (Peat) 11. Granit (Granite) 21. Pierre à plâtre (Gypsum) Duodi 2. Houille (Coal) 12. Argile (Clay) 22. Sel (Salt) Tridi 3. Bitume (Asphalt) 13. Ardoise (Slate) 23. Fer (Iron) Quartidi 4. Soufre (Sulphur) 14. Grès (Sandstone) 24. Cuivre (Copper) Quintidi 5. Chien (Dog) 15. Lapin (Coney) 25. Chat (Cat) Sextidi 6. Lave (Lava) 16. Silex (Flint) 26. Étain (Tin) Septidi 7. Terre végétale (Topsoil) 17. Marne (Marl) 27. Plomb (Lead) Octidi 8. Fumier (Manure) 18. Pierre à chaux (Limestone) 28. Zinc (Zinc) Nonidi 9. Salpêtre (Nitrate) 19. Marbre (Marble) 29. Mercure (Mercury) Decadi 10. Fléau (Flail) 20. Van (Winnowing Basket) 30. Crible (Sieve)
Conversion table
Table for conversion between Republican and Gregorian Calendar for the month "Nivôse" I. II. III. V. VI. VII. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 December 1792–1793 1793–1794 1794–1795 1796–1797 1797–1798 1798–1799 January IV. VIII. IX. X. XI. XIII. XIV. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 December 1795–1796 1799–1800 1800–1801 1801–1802 1802–1803 1804–1805 1805 January XII. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 December 1803–1804 January
External links Winter Quarter of Year II (facsimile) Fabre d’Églantine: Rapport sur le calendrier révolutionnaire (French)
sv:Franska revolutionskalendern#Månaderna