Autumn magic: What does Michaelmas Day bring? Customs and traditions in focus!

Autumn magic: What does Michaelmas Day bring? Customs and traditions in focus!

Autumn is just around the corner, and with it a gravestone festival that is very popular in many places: Michaelmas Day, which is celebrated on September 29th. This tradition has a long history that is still alive in many communities today. Next Tuesday, September 23, 2025, the show on BR Heimat will be all about the transition from late summer to autumn, with a special focus on Michaelmas Day. The customs expert Dorothea Steinbacher and Hermine Kaiser will shed light on the role of women in superstition and autumn work in an exciting conversation. The program is musically accompanied by Johannes Hitzelberger, which airs between 10:05 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. and is also available as a podcast. BR homeland reports that the program also discusses topics such as name days and farming rules in the fall.

Interestingly, Michaelmas Day coincides with the gloomy days of the equinox, which begins on September 23rd. This time symbolizes the battle between light and dark, which is not only spiritual but also practical. Michaelmas Day, which is dedicated to the archangels Michael, Gabriel and Rafael, marks the beginning of the season of thanksgiving and winter preparations. Traditionally, in the Middle Ages, this day was considered an important deadline for court hearings and often marked the end of rent and interest payments. LOGO notes that the date is also often associated with weather rules, one of which states: “If it rains gently on Michel Day, a mild winter will follow.”

Traditions and customs

The rich tradition of Michael's Day is still actively practiced in many regions today. In the Catholic Church it is celebrated as the Feast of the Archangels, and services are often held in Protestant communities. A sermon by Martin Luther about the Archangel Michael is also interesting here. In his “Schmalkaldic Articles” he rejects the invocation of angels as idolatry, but recognizes the holy role of Michael. The archangel himself is considered a defender of the Christian faith and is often depicted in armor with a sword or soul scales. Custom year adds that Michaelmas Day was also used as an appointment, lottery and weather day, and many folk wisdom and regulations have been preserved to this day.

A charming example of folk wisdom is “Michel lights the light,” which refers to the beginning of work in artificial light. A custom that has survived to this day is the St. Michael's Fire, which was lit on St. Michael's Eve to signal the work to be done in a darkening season. A cultural celebration could take place in Augsburg at the Turamichele festival or in Zug, Switzerland, at the Chilbi, where children have school off and adults celebrate together.

Michaelmas Day has much more to offer than just a festive occasion; it is deeply rooted in the history and culture of the regions that celebrate it. While the people of Minden are slowly adjusting to winter and cosiness from November 25th, we can now welcome autumn with all its customs and the bountiful harvest. A good time to leaf through the new edition of the “Old Bavarian Festivals and Customs Calendar”, which is available in bookstores with 136 pages and costs 19.90 euros. The topics of conversation about Golden Saturdays and Thanksgiving on October 5th should not be missing here either.