Countries by a Single Clue #11

I got it right away — but have no idea why. Never heard of it before. Although now that I think about it, must have simply been a deduction from the dynamic historic period.

Napoleon is actually the one who went back on it. Also, under the Republican calendar, people had two free days every ten days, which was more than the previous one day out of seven.

Regardless of practicality, it's a beautiful and rational calendar. The year was divided into twelve even thirty-day months, which were each divided into three decades (in French, a decade is a period of ten days, while a décennie is ten years). The months had beautiful names associated with the seasons, such as Nivôse (month of snow) or Floréal (the month of flowers). The first of the month was always a Primidi, the second always a Duodi, the 13th always a Tridi and so forth. The days ending in 1 through 4 and 6 through 9 paid homage to seasonal plants (instead of stupid saints), the days in 5 paid homage to animals, and the one in 0 to tools. The last 5 days of the year were a special holiday, and were named respectively for Virtue, Genius, Labour, Opinion, and Rewards. Every four years, an extra day, the Day of the Revolution, was added.

I, for example, was born on a day honouring Saint Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuit order, which undoubtedly sucks - whereas in the Republican Calendar, I was born on Tridi 13th Thermidor (month of warmth), which happened to be the Day of the Apricot, and I think that's way more beautiful.