Michaelmas in a Modern World

As faith continues its steady erosion in modern life, so too do many of its great traditions. We are fast approaching Michaelmas which is now eroding to such an extent that I feel the need to give it some attention. One of the great Quarter days, this was the time of year when accounts were made out to tenant farmers and bills settled as the proceeds of the harvest became apparent. Being so near to the equinox, it is also associated with a changing of the seasons as the warm days of summer give way to the cooler autumn with its imminent darkness. According to the bible, this marks the time when the Archangel Michael defeated Lucifer in the War in Heaven. Folklore has it that we shouldn't eat blackberries after this date because Satan fell from heaven into a blackberry bush and cursed its brambles as he fell in to them. There are regional variations to this story. In Yorkshire, they say Satan wept on them and in Cornwall they say Satan urinated on them! It is perhaps apt then that the government has chosen this time to offer shares in Lloyds to try and recoup some of the millions shelled out to save it a few years ago. It is hard to believe now but for a long time, Michaelmas was considered by many to be second only to Easter in importance. Of course the marketing men of the modern day have put paid to all that religious nonsense as they have relentlessly claimed Christmas as their own. Perhaps though it is refreshing that there are dates in the calendar which have not as yet been hijacked by the money men. In Powys, local councillors have just voted to make £145 million in cuts just to balance their books. A hard hit community looks set for more of the same in the months and years ahead. They will though come together all the more as humans do when the chips are down. On the 29th of September then, we are all supposed to settle our debts in readiness for the trying winter months ahead. In reality, the statistics show that a great many people have no hope of settling their debts any time soon as they try to negotiate their way through another Christmas three months hence. Maybe this year, they might not feel the same pressure to spend the money they don't have and we can aspire for a more level society. Anything is possible and the prospect of more nasty shocks on our statements in January is surely by now wearing a bit thin. In the mean time, get out there and enjoy the blackberries while you still can - its a great crop this year and absolutely free. True to the spirit of Michaelmas.