Michaelmas · Eyd-e Mika'il va Fereshtegan-e Moqarrab

Culture of origin: Christian · Cultural

Holiday sources: Australia (national) · Canada (federal) · Christianity · France · Germany (nationwide) · United Kingdom (England and Wales) · United States (federal)

Michaelmas, the feast of St Michael and All Angels, honours the archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael. Falling near the autumn equinox, it was one of the quarter days in England and Ireland, when rents fell due, servants were hired and magistrates chosen. It gives its name to the autumn term at Oxford and Cambridge and in the English courts, and a goose fattened on the stubble of the harvest fields was the traditional dish.