Beautiful, and Simple, Ways to Celebrate Michaelmas
Discover Michaelmas traditions and easy ways to celebrate this feast day. From cozy autumn recipes to fun activities for kids, bring this beautiful feast into your home.
The late September air brings a distinct shift. As summer completely fades, the Church hands us a magnificent feast day that perfectly bridges the changing of the seasons: Michaelmas on September 29.
In the Middle Ages, Michaelmas was a Holy Day of Obligation, where attendance at Mass was an obligation. This was abolished in the 18th century. At this time, the angels Gabriel and Rafael also had their own feast days (March 24 and October 24, respectively). But in 1969, with the liturgical reform under Pope Paul VI, the feast days were consolidated into the Feast of the Archangels. However, the traditional term of "Michaelmas" is still widely used for the September feast day.
Here are a few ways that you can celebrate Michaelmas this year.
1. Serve a Traditional Michaelmas Feast
Food is at the heart of Michaelmas traditions. You can lean into history by bringing these symbolic dishes to your table:
The Michaelmas Goose: Historically in the UK geese were brought to market at the end of summer after feeding on the fallen grain of the harvest. Eating a roast bird on this day was said to bring financial prosperity for the coming year. A roasted chicken or turkey works beautifully as a modern alternative.
Blackberry Desserts: Folklore says that when St. Michael cast Lucifer out of heaven, the devil fell directly into a prickly blackberry bush and cursed the fruit. Tradition holds that you should pick and eat your final blackberries of the year on or before Michaelmas! Make a blackberry cobbler, pie, or crisp.
Carrots: A Scottish custom says that you should pull up the last of your carrots on September 29 by digging a triangular hole in the ground which represented St. Michael's shield.
St. Michael’s Bannock: Another Scottish traditional food is a special bread or cake made with barley, oats and rye that was cooked on a griddle.
2. Reclaim the St. Michael Prayer
Michaelmas is a great time to renew your dedication to spiritual protection with St. Michael as our intercessor.
For Personal Devotion: Pray the traditional St. Michael prayer, chaplet or novena. These prayers remind us that the devil and evil spirits are active in the world, seeking to lead us away from God. These prayers help us to surrender to God through St. Michael's intercession and declare our commitment to resist evil.
Visual Reminders: Place a physical prayer card on your kitchen table, home altar, or desk. Having a visual reminder helps anchor your mind to St. Michael's intercession amidst a busy day at work or home. Download the St. Michael prayer freebie here!
3. Gathering with Kids? Keep it Simple
If you have children or students in your life, Michaelmas is a wonderful opportunity to introduce them to the Archangels and the protection of God's holy messengers.
Meet the Three Archangels: Keep it simple by focusing on the unique missions of the three angels honored on this feast day. Teach them that St. Michael is our brave protector against evil, St. Gabriel is God's special messenger who brought the good news to Mary, and St. Raphael is a companion and healer for travelers.
Coloring for Quiet Learning: Coloring is a fun way to help young children learn. While discussing the archangels, get out coloring sheets, crayons and colored pencils. As they color the traditional symbols of the Archangels (like St. Michael's shield or St. Gabriel's lily), it sparks their natural curiosity. You can use this fun, creative window to chat about how these holy helpers protect us every day.
Feast Day Storytime: End the day with an evening read-aloud. Choose a storybook that highlights the holy helpers, the virtue of courage, or the lives of the saints to show them how God uses His angels to love and protect us every single day.
However you choose to celebrate Michaelmas this year—whether with a cozy autumn meal, a quiet moment of prayer, or a fun coloring afternoon with your children—may this feast day fill your home with peace and a deep sense of God’s constant protection. As the seasons turn and the days grow shorter, remember that you never walk alone; the holy angels are always standing guard.
Holy Archangels Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, pray for us!
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