Christian Holiday St Michael and all Angels

Christians have set days to celebrate Saints and angels. One common holiday is Michaelmas, or the Feast of Michael and all angels.

It is a holiday celebrated on the 29th of September. Michaelmas or the Feast of St. Michael and all angels is a Christian holiday to celebrate all angels.

According to Wikipedia, Michaelmas is also known as the Feast of Saint Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, or the Feast of Michael and all angels.

In Roman Catholic, they celebrate Michaelmas as the Feast of Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael.

In Anglican Church and Lutheran, we know the feast as St. Michael, and all angels. The Eastern Orthodox Church does not celebrate St. Michael.

However, it observes the archangels on the 8th of November.

But most people know little about the Feast of Michael and all angels or why celebrate this holiday?

So, what is the Christian holiday, Michael and all angels, and why is it important to celebrate it as a Christian?

What is the Feast of Michael and all Angels?

Michaelmas, or the Feast of Michael and all angels, is a Christian holiday observed in Anglican Churches, Lutheran, Roman Catholic, and other Western churches.

Michaelmas means Michael’s Mass. It is a feast to honor the Archangel Michael for expelling Satan from heaven.

Revelation 12:7-9 – Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the entire world—he was thrown down to earth, and they threw his angels down with him.

Initially, the angels Gabriel and Raphael’s holidays were celebrated on the 18th of March and 24th of October, respectively.

However, the liturgical calendar was revised to include all archangels on Michaelmas.

However, some churches include Uriel (an angel not mentioned in the bible) on the Michaelmas holiday.

Why do Christians celebrate the three archangels?

On September 29th, Christians in various countries celebrate the Feast of Michael and all angels.

The three archangels celebrated are Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael.

They are the only three venerated by Protestants, Catholics, and other churches.

Even though there are other archangels, the churches recognize the three. The feast coincides with the harvest time in Western Europe.

In countries such as England, Christians eat goose on Michaelmas.

Michael

One of the most known angels is Archangel Michael. However, Michael is an angel and a Saint as well.

Michael, with other angels, defeated Lucifer and his supporters out of heaven.

As a reward for his loyalty, they made Michael the chief angel. Michael also protects humankind from the devil’s trap.

Daniel 10:13 – The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days, but Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for they left there me with the kings of Persia.

Jude 1:9 – But when archangel Michael, contending with the devil, was disputing about the body of Moses, he did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said, “The Lord rebuke you.”

Gabriel

Gabriel is the strength of God. He is the angel who revealed the birth of Jesus Christ to Mary.

Also, he revealed the birth of John the Baptist to Zachariah.

Luke 1:26-27 – In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary.

Raphael

Raphael is the angel who took care of Tobias during his journey. We know the angel Raphael as the medicine of God.

How do Christians celebrate Michaelmas?

Many Christians celebrate Michaelmas or the Feast of Michael and all angels all over the world.

Also, it is a harvest feast day. Thus, it is a day of feasting and celebrating. Christians set tables in their homes, invite friends.

According to traditions, Michael threw Satan from heaven to earth and he landed on a prickly blackberry bush.

In England, it is a day for electing magistrates, hiring servants, and starting legal and university terms.

What is the history of Michael and all angels’ holiday?

The roots of Michaelmas date back to the 3rd century.

According to Wikipedia, the name Michaelmas comes from Michael Mass, just like Christmas (Christ’s Mass), or Candlemas (Candle Mass).

It was celebrated as a Holy Day of Obligation, but they stopped the tradition in the 18th century.

But later it emerged as an official feast day to celebrate Archangel Michael.

They constructed a basilica near Rome to celebrate Saint Michael on the 30th of September.

From that day, celebrations began on the eve of the day and continue up to date.

What are the symbols and customs of Michaelmas?

Blackberries–according to some theories, blackberries were poisoned because Satan stepped on them and spit on them to get even with St Michael.

Dragon–there was a fight in heaven, where Michael and other angels fought a dragon. We also know the dragon as Satan, Lucifer, or the devil.

Goose–Goose is eaten on Michaelmas with the superstition that it will prevent worries about finances the whole year.

Also, in England, Michaelmas was the day tenant farmers paid their rent. They would include one goose for the landlord’s dinner.

Summary

Christians around the world celebrate the three archangels because of their role in helping humanity.

However, Archangel Michael is the most recognized for his role in defeating Satan.

On this day, Christians celebrate the day with special foods and drinks.

For instance, in England, people eat a goose for prosperity while in France, people eat waffles and Gaufres.

Most Christians believe celebrating this day supports prosperity and wealth for the entire family.