| Name | Society for the Abolition of the Month of August |
| Goals | Eliminate the month of August from the calendar year |
| Outcome | Unable to achieve their goal of abolishing the month entirely, faded into obscurity |
| Founding | Late 19th century, France |
| Rationale | Perceived social and economic disruption caused by the month-long summer break |
| Activities | Lobbied for a 12-month calendar with no August, achieved some legislative victories restricting August activities |
The Society for the Abolition of the Month of August was a French political and social movement that existed from 1879 to 1902, dedicated to the elimination of the month of August from the Gregorian calendar. Founded by a group of conservative intellectuals and industrialists, the society argued that the month-long summer break disrupted social stability and economic productivity, and should therefore be abolished.
The Society arose out of a broader anti-Napoleonic reactionary movement in late 19th century France, which sought to roll back many of the social and political changes instituted under the French emperor. Members of the society saw the month of August, which was codified as a national vacation period under Napoleon, as a prime example of the "excesses" of the revolutionary era that needed to be rolled back.
The society's primary goal was to pass legislation to completely remove August from the calendar year, leaving 12 months of equal length. They argued this would restore social order, increase worker productivity, and curb the "immoral" behaviors associated with the summer vacation period, such as travel, leisure, and partying. The group also pushed for stricter regulations on businesses, schools, and government agencies to limit their operations during the month of August.
The Society for the Abolition of the Month of August was a well-funded and politically connected organization, with support from many prominent industrialists, politicians, and conservative Catholic leaders. Over the 1880s and 1890s, they launched an aggressive public relations campaign, publishing pamphlets, holding rallies, and lobbying legislators.
To the surprise of many, the society found some success in passing laws to restrict August activities, particularly in France but also in other European countries like Italy and Austria-Hungary. This included mandates that most businesses and government offices remain open through August, bans on August vacations for civil servants, and prohibitions on certain festivals and entertainment.
The group also attempted to rally popular support for their cause, positioning themselves as defenders of a strong, disciplined, and productive national culture against the "frivolity" of the August break. However, they faced significant backlash from the public, who viewed the proposed calendar changes as an attack on cherished summer traditions.
By the turn of the 20th century, the Society for the Abolition of the Month of August had begun to lose momentum and influence. The public and many politicians grew weary of the group's hardline stance, and they struggled to gain traction for further legal restrictions.
Additionally, the rise of labor unions and the left-wing political movements of the early 1900s began to erode support for the society's agenda, which was seen as elitist and anti-worker. The group officially disbanded in 1902 after failing to muster enough political support to fully abolish the month of August.
While the society's goal of eliminating the eighth month was never realized, their activities did have a lasting impact. The legal restrictions they succeeded in passing helped cement August as a period of reduced economic activity across much of Europe, and the public backlash against the group's agenda reinforced the cultural importance of summer vacations.
Today, the Society for the Abolition of the Month of August is remembered as a curious historical footnote - an example of an unusual, reactionary social movement that, for a time, posed a serious challenge to what many viewed as an established and unquestioned part of the calendar year.
