Michaelmas Day- Sept. 29th
Michaelmas Day is the Day of St. Michael and All the Angels. Michael is one of the main angelic warriors, protector of the night, and the giver of cosmic intelligence. He is the patron saint of the sea, ships, and horses.
Old Michaelmas Day falls on October 10th and legend has it that blackberries are no longer good to be picked after this date. That is because on this day, Satan was expelled from heaven and when he fell, it was onto a blackberry bramble and he then proceeded to curse the bramble.
Michaelmas Day falls near the equinox and is associated with the beginning of autumn and the shortening of days. It is traditionally the last day of harvest. It used to be the celebration of the Winter Night Curfew, which began with the tolls of a church bell. The bell was rung every night except for Sundays until Shrove Tuesday, the last day before Lent.
It is observed as a feast by the Church of England with a traditional meal of a stubble goose and St. Michael's Bannock cake. The reason for the goose is said to be because Queen Elizabeth was dining on a goose when she received news of the defeat of the Armada. She swore to always eat goose on Michaelmas Day and others followed.
The eve of Michaelmas day was also important. It was when the bringing in of the carrots, baking the struan (a cereal cake), killing the lamb, and the thieving of horses occurred.
Michaelmas was celebrated as a day of obligation until the 18th century. It was an English, Welsh & Irish quarter day when rents were due. Sometimes tenants would take a goose to their landlords in hopes of delay. It was also a day when new councils were elected including a representative of the king from the peasants.
Happy Michaelmas Day!!
Sincerely,
Rauncie Kinnaird
Clans Celts & Clover| Email: r.k@sasktel.net Phone: 306-382-4443 Website: http://www.clansceltsandclover.com and http://www.kinnairdbagpipes.com |
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