Why is the October Revolution called the ‘November Revolution’? The calendar labyrinth and the complete history of the historic revolution.

 

There are events in history that defy conventional logic. The mere mention of Russia's famous socialist revolution immediately brings the "October Revolution" to mind. Yet, curiously, communist activists—from the Soviet Union to the rest of the world—observe the anniversary of this revolution on November 7th.

How did the "October Revolution" come to be marked in November? Is this merely a peculiar calendar quirk, or does it stem from a century-long saga of resentment, bloodshed, and a monumental struggle to secure rights?

The Calendar Conundrum: Julian vs. Gregorian

The true mystery behind this puzzle lies in the calculations of two distinct calendars.

When the Bolshevik Revolution took place in Russia in 1917, the country was operating under the Julian calendar. Introduced by Julius Caesar in 46 BC, this calendar calculated the solar year as 365 days and 6 hours. In reality, however, it takes the Earth 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes, and 46 seconds to orbit the Sun. This meant that an excess of approximately 11 minutes and 14 seconds was being accounted for each year.

Although it may seem insignificant, this accumulated time difference grew to a substantial amount over the centuries. To rectify this discrepancy, Pope Gregory XIII of the Roman Catholic Church introduced a new solar calendar in 1582, known today worldwide as the ‘Gregorian calendar.’ While Catholic and Protestant nations in Europe gradually adopted the Gregorian calendar, the Russian Orthodox Church refused to accept the Pope's reform; consequently, Russia continued to follow the old Julian system.

By the twentieth century, calculations revealed that Russia's Julian calendar was lagging a full 13 days behind Europe's modern Gregorian calendar!

According to Russia's old Julian calendar, the night of the revolution was October 24–25, 1917.

However, according to the Gregorian calendar used by the rest of the world at that very moment, the date was November 6–7, 1917.

What was the final night of October for Russia was the dawn of November for the rest of the world.

In January 1918, Vladimir Lenin's government adopted the Gregorian calendar to align with international standards. The day immediately following January 31, 1918, was declared to be February 14! In a single night, Russian citizens lost 13 days of their lives. Due to this calendar adjustment, the actual solar position corresponding to the old date of October 25 shifted to November 7. Consequently, although it is known as the "October Revolution," its official anniversary is observed every year on November 7.

Background of the Revolution: Causes Behind the Eruption of Discontent

The transformation of 1917 was not an isolated incident that occurred suddenly; it was fueled by centuries of accumulated oppression:

Exploitation under Autocratic Tsarist Rule: The Romanov autocrat Tsar Nicholas II and the Russian aristocracy inflicted brutal social and political oppression upon ordinary peasants and workers.

The Abject Misery of Peasants: The vast majority of Russia's population consisted of landless peasants. Although the feudal serfdom system was nominally abolished in 1861, peasants were left destitute by exorbitant taxes and the burden of debt.

The Wretched Lives of Workers: Despite the late onset of industrialization in Russia, factory workers endured 12 to 14-hour workdays for meager wages. Forming trade unions or calling strikes was strictly prohibited.

The Impact of World War I: Russia's economy collapsed after it became embroiled in World War I in 1914. Approximately 1.7 million Russian soldiers lost their lives, a severe food crisis gripped the nation, and ordinary people began dying of starvation.

Failure of the Provisional Government: Although the Tsar was overthrown by a popular uprising in March 1917, the bourgeois 'Provisional Government' led by Alexander Kerensky failed to end the war and proved completely incapable of meeting the public's fundamental demands for bread and land.

Spread of the Revolution: ‘Peace, Bread, and Land’

Upon returning to Russia from exile in Switzerland, Vladimir Lenin announced his famous ‘April Theses.’ His core slogans were: "Peace, Bread, and Land" and "All Power to the Soviets."

Formation of the Red Guard: Under the leadership of Leon Trotsky’s Military Revolutionary Committee, the ‘Red Guard’ force was organized, comprising pro-Bolshevik armed workers and soldiers.

Seizure of Power (24–25 October / 6–7 November):

Following a precise plan, the Bolsheviks seized Petrograd’s main telegraph office, telephone exchange, railway stations, bridges, and the State Bank within a single night.

A signal to attack the Winter Palace was given by firing a cannon from the warship ‘Aurora’ on the Neva River.

The Red Guard forces surrounded the Winter Palace and arrested the ministers of the Provisional Government. Kerensky fled the city.

Establishment of the Soviet Government: During the historic session of the Second All-Russian Congress of Soviets, a new socialist government—the ‘Council of People's Commissars’—was formed under the leadership of Lenin.

Nature of the Revolution

Socialist Revolution of the Proletariat: While the French Revolution of 1789 primarily marked the rise of the bourgeois middle class, the October Revolution—in accordance with Marxist theory—was the first successful political revolution by the worker-peasant (proletarian) class in world history.

Planned and Disciplined Uprising: It was not an uncontrolled, bloody riot; thanks to the impeccable strategies of Lenin and Trotsky, there was minimal bloodshed during the seizure of key administrative centers.

International Perspective: The Bolsheviks did not view this transformation merely as a change within Russia; rather, they regarded it as the first step toward a global international revolution against imperialism and capitalism.

Outcomes and Far-Reaching Impact

Birth of the World's First Socialist State: Sweeping away the centuries-old Romanov dynasty and bourgeois dominance, the world's first socialist superpower—the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR)—was born.

Fundamental Decrees and Reforms:

Land Decree: All lands belonging to the aristocracy and the Orthodox Church were confiscated and distributed among the peasantry free of charge.

Workers' Control and Nationalization: All banks, factories, mines, and railways were brought under state ownership, and the management of factories was entrusted to workers' committees.

Withdrawal from the World War: Respecting the people's demand for peace, Soviet Russia withdrew from World War I by signing the 'Treaty of Brest-Litovsk' with Germany in March 1918.

Inspiration for anti-colonial movements: The ideals of the October Revolution profoundly influenced nationalist and labor movements among liberation-seeking nations across Asia and Africa—including India, China, and Vietnam.

Establishment of social rights: Free education, universal healthcare, equal pay for equal work, and women's suffrage and equal social status were legally guaranteed.

Calendar discrepancies may have shifted the date from October to November, but the tremors of that night in 1917 irrevocably altered the global social and political landscape.