The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-09-27
IT is MICHAELMAS DAY
Catholic Churches of World
Observe Feast Day.
It's Origin Is Given by Many
Famous Authors.
BY Eleanor KIMBALL.

September the goth will be the
Feast OF st. Michael and All Angels
and is celebrated in the Angli-
can. Roman Catholic and Eastern
churches. The observation of the day
is commonly traced to an apparition
OF the Archangel which is supposed
TO have taken place on Monte Gar
gano in Apulia Italy, in the sixth CEN
fury when the Archangel Michael ap-
penred to Gregory the Great during
plague, but it is likely for various
reasons that this festival is even older.
This particular apparition is COM
memorated in the Roman Catholic
church on May the Sth; the feast in
September has a wider application in
the Anglican and Eastern churches
as well, and is intended to recall the
benefits received thru the ministry OF
angels.
The old English name for this day
is Michaelmas and, says an old writer,
lis Il festival appointed by the church
TO be observed in honor of St. Michael,
the archanCel, who is supposed to be
the chief of the hosts of heaven, as
Lucifer is chief of the hosts of the
inferno, and as St. Michael was sup
posed to be the protector of the Jew
ish. so he is now esteemed the guard
ian and defender of the Christian
churches"
superstition of Sailors.
Bishop Hall in his "Triumphs of
Rome" writes Of a red velvet buckler
that is still preserved in a castle in
Normandy. which the Archangel made
use of in his combat with the Dragon.
In the same work Is indicated the
superstition of sailors among the Ro-
manists. who, when they passed by ST.
MichaeTs Grecian promonitory Malta,
y hofr
entreating him not to press too heav-
lily with his wings upon their sails.
In England this day has been for
centuries or important day as quar-
ter day and tho beginning of legal
and university terms.
one cannot mention Micha elmas
day without bringing to mind the
Michaelmas Goose. This fowl is as
closely associated with this day as the
turkey is with our Thanksgiving day
u is a popular saying that IF you
eat goose On Michaelmas day you will
never want money all the year round"
why People Eat Geese.
one writer gives as the reason for
eating goose on Michaelmas day that
Queen Elizabeth received the news Of
the defeat OF the Spanish Armada
while she was eating goose on that day
and that in commemoration of that
event she ever afterwards on that day
dinel on goose, but there is strong
proof that the custom prevailed even
before that time.
In behring's Nottingham mention
occurs of hot roasted geese" having
been given on Michaelmas day by the
old mayor. in the morning at his
house. previous to the election of the
new one.
Macauley in his history Of St Kilda
tells that Is was not until recently,
the universal custom among the
islanders on Michaelmas day to pre-
pare in every family loaf Of cake or
bread enormously large, and COM
pounded of different ingredients. This
cake belonged to the Archai eel
Michael and had its name from him.
Every one in each family. whether
stranger or domestic, had his portion
~ this kind of showbread and Of
course some title to the friendship
and protection OF Michael.
Custom In Ireland.
So also in ireland, a sheep was
bulcd in every family that could af-
Tod one, on the same anniversary;
I'D IL was ordained by law that a
part OF il should be given to the poor.
This and a great deal more was done
in that kingdom to perpetuate the
memory Of a miracle wrought there
by St. Patrick thru the assistance OF
the Archangcl in commemoration of
which Michaelmas was instituted as a
stall day Of JOY, plenty and universal
btItNOlenC6-
The great fair held at Nottingham
WIS called Goose fair, probably from
its taking place right after Michael
mas day. and from the vast quantity
Of geese slaughtered and eaten. Popu-
lar tradition. however. assigns a far
different origin to its name father.
for some reason or other, had brought
up his three sons in total seclusion;
so complete, indeed, that they had
never set eyes on a woman. on their
arriving at manhood the father took
them to the october fair. promising
TO buy each OF them what he should
desire most They gazed around ask
ing the names OF all they saw, and
upon beholdins some women working
they demanded what they were.
Alarmed al the eagerness OF their in
Guries, the father replied. why.
those silly things are geese" where
upon all three sons instantly ex-
claimed. "Oh, father buy me a goose"
Even With All the Money.
Notwithstanding that so many d.
vorce suits are filed" some people
still declare that they find ma rriad