Introduction of a New Calendar
Council of People's Commissars, Introduction of a New Calendar. February 6, 1918
On February 6, 1918, the Council of People's Commissars decreed that Russia would abandon the Julian calendar in favor of the Gregorian calendar used across most of Europe. The change advanced the date by thirteen days, and the decree specified how the transition would affect wages, loan payments, pensions, and contractual obligations.
Original Source: Декреты Советской власти. Том I. 25 октября 1917 г. – 16 марта 1918 г. М.: Гос. издат-во политической литературы, 1957.
In order to establish the system of time-reckoning used by almost all cultured nations, the Council of People's Commissars resolves to introduce into civil life, after the expiry of the month of January of this year, a new calendar. In virtue of this:
(1) The first day after January 31, this year, shall be reckoned, not as February 1, but as February 14; the second day, as 15, and so on.
(2) The terms of all obligations, both contractual and under law, that would have fallen due, under the previous calendar, between February I and 14 of this year, shall be regarded as due between February 14 and 27, by adding 13 days to every respective date.
(3) The terms of all obligations that would have fallen due, under the previous calendar, between February 14 and July 1, this year, shall be regarded as due, given the agreement of both sides, 13 days later.
(4) The terms of all obligations that would have fallen due, under the previous calendar, beginning with July 1, this year, shall be regarded as due on the same dates also under the new calendar.
(5) In reckoning, on the first day after February 14 under the new calendar, the date of payment of interest on all state and private loans, dividend warrants, bank deposits and current accounts, 13 days shall be dropped from the time that has elapsed since the last payment of interest.
(6) Persons whose wages or salaries are paid at the end of every month shall receive, on February 28 of this year, their monthly pay minus thirteen thirtieths of it.
(7) Persons whose wages or salaries are paid on the 15th and 30th of every month shall receive no pay on February 15 but shall receive, on February 20 of this year, their monthly pay minus thirteen thirtieths of it.
(8) Persons whose wages or salaries are paid on the 20th of every month shall receive, on February 20 of this year, their monthly pay minus thirteen thirtieths of it.
(9) After January 31 of this year, the dates of payment of pensions and special allowances fixed in the relevant rules shall be reckoned as coming 13 days later.
(10) Until July 1 of this year, the date according to the heretofore effective calendar shall be indicated in brackets after the date according to the new calendar.
Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars, V. UL'IANOV (LENIN)
Source: Yuri Akhapkin, ed., First Decrees of Soviet Power (London: Lawrence & Wiehart, 1970), pp. 93-94.