San miguel day

The Day of San Miguel is the Day of San Miguel and All the Angels. Michael was the Archangel who defeated Lucifer and banished him. He is one of the main angelic warriors, protector of the night and giver of cosmic intelligence. He is the patron saint of the sea, ships and horses. He is celebrated for his defeat of Lucifer.

It is celebrated on September 29. It falls near the equinox and is associated with the beginning of autumn and the shortening of days. Traditionally it is the last day of harvest. It used to be the celebration of the winter night curfew, which began with the tolling of a church bell. The bell rang every night except 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 vowed that she would always eat goose on Michael’s Day and others followed her.

San Miguel was celebrated as a day of obligation until the 18th century. It was an English, Welsh and Irish term day when rents are due. Sometimes tenants brought a goose to their owners in the hope of delays. It was also a day when new councils were elected that included a representative of the king from among the peasants.

Old San Miguel Day is October 11. Legend has it that when Michael banished Lucifer from heaven, he fell into a blackberry bush and cursed them, so blackberries should not be eaten after St. Michael’s Day.