Germinal (month)

Germinal was the first month of the spring quarter (mois de printemps).

In the context of the French Revolution, Germinal sometimes refers to the downfall and execution of the Indulgents, Georges Danton and Camille Desmoulins, which took place during Germinal of 1794, four months before the Thermidorian Reaction in which Robespierre himself was executed.

The events of Germinal 1794 signaled the beginning of the end of the Reign of Terror.

Like all FRC months, Germinal lasted 30 days and was divided into three 10-day weeks called décades (decades).

Every day had the name of an agricultural plant, except the 5th (Quintidi) and 10th day (Decadi) of every decade, which had the name of a domestic animal (Quintidi) or an agricultural tool (Decadi).