In France, the Revolutionary epoch, a new calendar was introduced by a decree of the National Convention, 24 Nov. 1793. The new reckoning was to begin with 22 Sept. 1792, the day on which the first decree of the new republic had been promulgated. The year was made to consist of 12 months of 30 days each, and, to complete the full number, five fête days (in leap year six) were added at the end of the year. Instead of weeks, each month was divided into three parts, called decades, con sisting of 10 days each; the other divisions being also accommodated to the decimal system. This calendar was abolished at the command of Napoleon, by a decree of the Senate, 9 Sept. 1805, and the common or Gregorian calendar was re-established on 1 January of the follow ing year. The Mohammedans employ a lunar year of 354 days and 12 lunar months, which have alternately 29 and 30 days. Thirty years form a cycle and 11 times in every cycle an extra day is added at the end of the year. The months and the seasons do not correspond and the first of the year may fall at any time dur ing the solar year. The months are named
Muharram, Saphar, Rabia I, Rabia II, Jomadi I, Jomadi II, Rajab, Shaaban, Ramadan, Sha wall, Dulkaada and Dulkeggia. The Moham medan era is computed from the first day of theyear of the Hejira, or flight of Mohammed to Medina. It corresponds with 15 July 622 of the Christian era. The Mohammedan year which began on 28 Oct. 1916 was the 15th year of the 45th cycle, or the year 1335 of the Mo hammedan era. See also CHRONOLOGY; CYCLE; EPOCH • HEJIRA.
Bibliography. Boll, Kalen dar> (Heidelberg 1910) ; Bowditch, (Numera tion, Calendar Systems and Astronomical Knowledge of the Mayas> (Cambridge,. Mass., 1910) • Burnaby, (Elements of the Jewish and Mohammedan Calendar' (London 1901) Langdon, (Tablets from the Archives of Drehem, with a Complete Account of the Origin of the Sumerian Calendar' (Paris 1911) ; Mahler, (Etudes sur le calendrier egyptier0 (ib. 1907) ; Plunket, Calen dars and Constellations' (London 1903) ; Schram, (Kalendariographische and chronol ogische Ta f eln (Leipzig 1908).