A reader writes, “Did you know that January 26 is Violet Day in the French Revolutionary Calendar? Octidi of the first decade of Ventose, the windy month. Or might well be. Napoleon banned the funky thing in 1803 or thereabouts, and it is hard to match up to gregorian time, but — Happy Violet Day.
According to the wikipedia ‘a quirk of the violet is its elusive scent, elusive because a major component is a ketone compound called ionone which temporarily desensitizes the nose and prevents any further scent from being detected and followed.’
Ha!
In any event, because I do enjoy reading your blog so much, I thought you should know. (and because I find that calendar fascinating. A different name for every day! Manure Day! Pruning knife Day! Billygoat Day!)”
