September 29th in the Western calendar is known as Michaelmas, or the feast of St. Michael and all Archangels. It’s a joyful feast, celebrating the angelic powers who serve the Lord and war against the demonic forces. St. Michael specifically is known as the Commander of the Lord’s army, and is the one who will cast Satan into Hell.

As an Eastern Orthodox Christian who lives in the West, I take great delight in living in both calendars. One of the beloved traditions of Orthodoxy is celebrating the Name Day of your patron saint. It’s similar to a birthday: your patron saint is chosen when you come into the Church. Though it’s a family name, we also named our son after Saint Michael because he has a very special place in my life: as a Protestant, my faith was fortified at a church camp called St. Michael’s Conference. When I began inquiring into Orthodoxy, I was enrolled as a catechumen at Saint Michael’s Orthodox Church in Whittier, CA. At this church I later met my husband, and was chrismated as an Orthodox Christian.

At some point I will write more on the beautiful tradition of patron saints and how they help us participate in the cloud of witnesses that St. Paul talks about — but this is not that post. Instead, I want to talk about how we celebrated Michael’s Western Name Day and enjoyed some of the British traditions around Michaelmas.

Michaelmas has a rich history: it was celebrated in the Middle Ages as the days become shorter and colder, symbolizing the last day of the harvest and asking St. Michael’s protection against the coming darkness. One of my favorite resources on British holidays and folklore is a book called Cattern Cakes and Lace. Many of the holidays they describe overlap with church feasts, and they give delightful recipes and ideas for celebration.

Blackberries and goose are the two primary foods eaten on Michaelmas: blackberries because of the British folktale that Satan fell into a blackberry bramble when he was cast down from heaven, and goose because of a superstition it would protect against financial hardship in the coming year.

Given we’re in the midst of moving, I wasn’t quite up to cooking a goose. Maybe next year. But blackberries were perfect: and also happened to be among Michael’s favorites. I used this recipe to bake a blackberry torte for dessert, and Michael loved observing and taste-testing the berries with me.

After dinner, we sang God Grant You Many Years to Michael, and he enjoyed smashing his torte and eating some of it, though I think most of it ended up on his face and onesie.

His aunt called to wish Michael a happy Name day, and his uncle/godfather FaceTimed us to say the same, making Michael giggle up a storm. It was a delightful and joyful day. I’m so grateful for these traditions that bring us together and infuse our daily life with the goodness of the faith.

Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in the day of battle. Be our safeguard against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and do thou, O prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God, thrust into Hell Satan and all evil spirits who wander through the world, seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.

Prayer to Saint Michael the Archangel