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History Series: Michaelmas
History of Michaelmas
Who is St. Michael?
September 29 is Michaelmas, meaning “Michael’s Mass” or the Feast of Saint Michael and All Angels.
It’s known as the Feast of Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael in the Roman Catholic Church or just the Feast of the Archangels in the Anglican Church.
The Eastern Orthodox Church, instead, celebrates the Feast of the Archangels on November 8.
Americans may not be familiar with it, but you may hear the name in British period costume dramas.
What does it celebrate, and how is it observed?
What is an archangel, who is Saint Michael, and why is he called a Saint?
And why shouldn’t you pick blackberries after Michaelmas?
Origin of the Date
The choice of September 29 as the day to honor St. Michael has been a subject of debate. The origins trace back to the text describing the dedication of a basilica near Rome in the fifth century, originally on September 30, in honor of all archangels.
However, a later text suggests that the dedication was specifically for St. Michael and occurred on September 29. The basilica is no more, but the tradition of celebrating Michaelmas on September 29 has endured in Western Christianity throughout history.
