As the crisp air of September signals the end of summer, students across the globe prepare to return to their studies, marking the start of a new academic year. But in medieval times, the month of September was also a time of reflection and celebration, centered around two significant holidays: Holyrood Day on the 14th and Michaelmas on the 29th.
These days were not only spiritual markers but also practical ones, as they often aligned with the rhythms of agricultural life, much like how our modern calendar aligns with the school year. Holyrood Day, commemorating the exaltation of the Holy Cross, and Michaelmas, celebrating the archangel Michael, remind us that transitions—whether from summer to fall or from leisure to study—are opportunities for renewal and growth. Just as students embark on a new year of learning, these ancient holidays offer us a moment to pause, reflect, and prepare for the challenges and rewards that lie ahead.
Holyrood Day: Boys Gone Wild
We’ll start with Holyrood Day. In modern English the name translates to Holy Cross. Emperor Heraclius declared it a holiday in 615 to commemorate the theft of a large piece of the Holy Cross from Jerusalem.
So how did the commemoration of this theft translate for the ordinary English student? Not in ways you would expect!
Since the Middle Ages, there was a back to school tradition that boys at Eton College engaged in. It was called “going a nutting.” This was the practice of gathering fall nuts to present as gifts to their teachers. In face, there was even a rhyme about it.
This day, they say, is called Holy-rood Day,
And all the youth are now a nutting gone!
The medieval teachers made this exercise in botany part of the curriculum. Before Christmas leave was granted to the boys by the college masters, they had to write verses on the fruitfulness of autumn and the cold of the advancing winter. Maybe Emperor Heraclius loved his nuts!
Rood Screen Maintenance
Holyrood Day was also a time set aside for the maintenance of what were called “rood screens.” With all sorts of unruly students running around the cathedral schools, the church could not afford to defer maintenace. This included the rood screen which received special attention on Holyrood Day.
What is a rood screen? You might ask.
A rood screen is an ornate, often wooden, partition found in medieval churches that separates the chancel (where the altar is located) from the nave (the main body of the church where the congregation sits).
The term "rood" refers to the crucifix or large cross that is typically mounted on top of the screen, often flanked by statues of the Virgin Mary and St. John the Evangelist. The rood screen was not only a physical barrier but also a symbolic one, representing the separation between the sacred space of the clergy and the more communal area of the rank and file congregation. While some rood screens were quite elaborate, adorned with intricate carvings, paintings, and even gilding, others were simpler in design.
There are many existing entries in church records for the maintenance of the rood screen. A favorite of mine is from the Stow manuscript that describes how carpenter’s working on a rood screen (the fragment of the cross must be protected from the prols!) drank their wages.
Michaelmas
Following Holyrood Day on September 14th, where the exaltation of the Holy Cross invites us to drink above our wages and to collect nuts and write essays for our teachers, the month continues its spiritual journey towards Michaelmas on September 29th. As the harvest season reaches its peak, Michaelmas, dedicated to the archangel Michael, serves as a reminder of the ongoing battle between good and evil, light and darkness.
Just as the days grow shorter, the themes of protection, justice, and strength associated with Michaelmas prepare us for the challenges ahead, both in the physical world and in our personal lives. These two holidays, though distinct in their focus, are intertwined in their shared message of resilience and the enduring presence of faith as we transition from one season to the next.
The Lawless Hour: A Produce-Based Halloween?
Perhaps, in an early expression of the Halloween spirit, Michaelmas could see a “lawless hour.” A lawless hour allowed people who lived in a town or village to assemble on the high street. Once there, they elected a “bailiff” who acted as judge for the melee to follow.
Then came the cabbage throwing!
For an hour, as the church bells rang and musicians played, the mob tossed their produce. Some families brought apples, pears, and–of course–nuts to the fray.
At the end of the lawless hour there was a peace declared and the mob dispersed. This lawless hour was likely a celebration of the plenty of the harvest. A way to let off steam from the hard agricultural labor performed during the spring and summer that hopefully resulted in such plenty that food could be used for sport rather than consumption.
Michaelmas Payday
Michaelmas on September 29th was more than just a religious observance; it was also a significant economic marker, particularly for those employed by the government. Known as one of the quarter days, Michaelmas was a traditional time for settling debts, paying rents, and, importantly, disbursing salaries to government officials and workers. This practice aligned with the agricultural cycle, as it followed the harvest season, ensuring that funds were available to fulfill financial obligations. For medieval government employees, Michaelmas represented not only a celebration of the archangel Michael but also a crucial pay day, securing their livelihoods for the months ahead.
Public employees, such as Geoffrey Chaucer and Thomas Hoccleve were paid on Michaelmas. (Employees of the crown were only paid twice a year.) Here you can see Hoccleve’s salary for one Michaelmas disbursement.
Michaelmas Goose
There is an old custom of having a Michaelmas goose for dinner. During the harvest season, geese were more plentiful. The bird was associated with celebrations even into the Early Modern period. Legend has it that that Elizabeth I was eating her Michaelmas goose when she received news of the defeat of the Spanish Armada.
Not sure if Hoccleve’s salary (which you can see was paid late!) could have purchased him a goose. But perhaps he was able to join friends at the taverns he so loved to frequent and split the bill.
Conclusion
As September draws to a close, the observances of Holyrood Day and Michaelmas remind us of the rich tapestry of medieval life, where the sacred and the secular were closely intertwined. Holyrood Day, with its focus on the Holy Cross.
We can also reflect on our own fall traditions of new school clothes, pumpkin spiced everything and the glorious changes of the season that we can mark with our own rituals. As we move from the warmth of summer into the cool embrace of autumn.
Comments