Wednesday, November 28, 2007

6 Frimaire, Revolutionary Year 216


If we didn't run around looking at calendars, we'd probably lose track of days and weeks, maybe months. Why? Because they're made up by humans and used "for convenience." But whose convenience? If it's all pretty random, why not add some new weekend days into the mix?

First, what a mess we have:

Thirty days hath November,
April, June, and September:
Of twenty-eight is but one,
And all the remnant thirty-one.


Oh really? Don't forget: only eat raw oysters in "R" months. Spring ahead, fall back, get up at the crack, don't be late, time's-a-wasting.

My rhetorical response to all these rules? Bite me. (Except for the raw oysters, of course).


Gregorian, Julian, Islamic 28-day lunar months, Mayan calendar end-of-the-world, blah blah blah. Why don't we consult the French Revolutionary calendar while we're at it? It's still running, ticking away in the background though mainly consulted, I suspect, by ghosts.

Today is 6 Frimaire, Revolutionary Year 216.

The calendar begins with the academic year. Frimaire (Frost) is the second month.

Each month is divided into three décades (in place of seven-day weeks).

There are twelve months of thirty days.

At the end of the year in late summer, there are five sans-culottides days, crazy holidays of sorts: Genius Day, Labor Day, Noble Action Day, Awards Day, Opinion Day. On Opinion Day you can poke fun at anybody without nasty repercussions, sort of an All Fool's Day. On Leap Years, there's Revolution Day. Nothing about Superbowl Day, though it could probably be arranged -- but would it be American football or European? And what about Guillotine Day -- watch a few billionaires get their heads lopped off? Woo-hoo! Bring out your rich! Bring out your dead!

Today's Rune: Growth.

5 comments:

Lana Gramlich said...

You forgot to mention that Nov. 24th was the first day of the Celtic month of Dumannios (the Darkest Depths,) according to the Coligny calendar. Today is also the 1st day of the Runic month of Is (ice,) & the Goddess month of Astraea.
I'm with you on the "bite me" thing, though, really.
I had to laugh at all the people who made such a stink about Y2K. When I pointed out to one friend that it was really just an arbitrary number, she admitted that the thought had never occurred to her! I was glad to put her brainwashed mind at ease, at any rate.

the walking man said...

During a test yesterday while I was being asked to define words...the word calender came up...a full forty seconds went by then I had to say "I think I know the word but can't define it other than an invention of men."

Peace

mark

Charles Gramlich said...

When I made up my calender for the planet Talera I made it very regular. That's probably a mistake but it sure makes sense.

Lana Gramlich said...

By the way, I'm tagging you for the middle-name meme. The rules are at; http://lucidflora.blogspot.com/2007/11/middle-name-meme.html
(I also know how busy people are, so I won't be offended if you ignore this "tag." Peace!)

Erik Donald France said...

Thank y'all for the comments --
Lana, my middle name was originally just "D" like Harry S Truman -- but my father's name is Donald, so now that's my middle name (it's too hard to explain "D" anyway!)

I have responses to the meme, but in the interest of good taste, will hang fire for now. . .