The 29th September is dedicated as a feast day in the Christian Church
to St. Michael and All Angels. In the Bible the Angel Michael is
mentioned several times, and always as a fighter, especially against
Satan. Thus you find it stated in the Epistle of Jude that Michael the
Archangel contended with the Devil regarding the body of Moses. In the
book of the Revelation of St. John, again, you will find it written that
there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the
dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, and prevailed not; neither
was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast
out, that old Serpent, called the Devil. He was cast out into the earth,
and his angels were cast out with him.
You will gather from this that St. Michael always appears in the
character of a warrior; and as the Christian Church accomplished a great
deal of fighting, especially during the time of the crusades, it can
easily be understood that the warlike Archangel was popular. In old
pictures he is usually represented in a coat of mail, and with a short
spear in his hand, hurling Satan downwards to the earth. John Milton, in
his "Paradise Lost," makes full use of this conception of the Archangel,
only that he puts a great and marvellous sword into his hand:
"The sword
Of Michael from the armoury of God
Was given him tempered so, that neither keen
Nor solid might resist that edge; it met
The sword of Satan, with steep force to smite
Descending, and in half cut sheer; nor stayed,
But, with swift wheel reverse, deep entering shared
All his right side: Then Satan first knew pain."
In old times it was usual to have a saint or an angel for one's
guardian, and as Michael, according to the Church, was both of these he
was popular as a heavenly protector. But an earthly protector was also
required, and thus it came about--whether by accident or intentionally I
cannot tell--that magistrates were chosen upon Michaelmas Day. Thus you
find that the Lord Mayor of London is elected on the 29th of September.
This day is also one of the four quarterly terms; the day upon which
many people pay their rent; and not always, therefore, a day of joy. In
old times when the farmer took his rent to the lord of the manor it was
usual for him to carry a fat goose in his hand as a present. From this
practice it has established itself as a custom to have a goose for
dinner on Michaelmas Day; another good reason is that geese, when fed
upon the chance grain of autumn's stubbled fields, are always at their
fattest and best. It is curious to note, how that, although a holy day
or a holiday may have begun with the adoration of saint or angel, it
usually survives for us in some form of eating. But you children, I am
sure, do not object.