Nivôse (; also ''Nivose'') was the fourth

month A month is a unit of time, used with calendars, that is approximately as long as a natural phase cycle of the Moon; the words ''month'' and ''Moon'' are cognates. The traditional concept of months arose with the cycle of Moon phases; such lunar mo ...

in the French Republican Calendar. The month was named after the

Latin Latin ( or ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally spoken by the Latins (Italic tribe), Latins in Latium (now known as Lazio), the lower Tiber area aroun ...

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 the Frimaire and precedes the

Pluviôse Pluviôse (; also ''Pluviose'') was the fifth month in the French Republican Calendar. The month was named after the Latin Latin ( or ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European langua ...

. 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. So it was decided to omit the circumflex (''accent circonflexe'') in the names of the winter months. So the month was named ''Nivose'' instead of ''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."

Conversion table

External links

Winter Quarter of Year II (facsimile)

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nivose French Republican calendar months December January sv:Franska revolutionskalendern#Månaderna