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celebrations
christmas
boxingday
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midday
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michaelmas
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plowmonday |
 The feast
of St. Michael and All Angels or Michaelmas (September 25/29) fell about the
time of the autumnal equinox. The equinox marked the period when the nights
would be getting longer and the earth would begin to die. St. Michael came to be
seen as the protector against the forces of the dark.
Traditionally this was celebrated with eating goose which had fed well on the
stubble of the fields after the harvest. In many places, a there was also a
tradition of special large loaves of bread made only for that day.
On the manors at Michaelmas, a reeve was elected from among the peasants to keep
watch over the work and to assure that production was up to expectation. If
rents or donations of goods fell short, the reeve had to make it up on his own.
In medieval tradition, Michaelmas was a Holy Day of Obligation, everyone was
required to attend church. It is, also, traditionally, a day of settling debts,
which implies to a sense of putting your affairs in order. Also, as it falls
during the middle of the harvest time, it was seen as a day of hospitality where
one invited their friends over for one last celebration before preserving food
for winter stores.
Celebrations
Christmas Boxing Day
Easter May Day
Martinmas Advent
Halloween Michaelmas
Pentecost Candlemas
Hock Tide Plow Monday
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