| The Parish Church of St James |  |
| St. James's Road, Hampton Hill, TW12 1DQ (Parish Office 020 8941 6003) | |
| WORSHIP/SERVICES | |
| Section Contents: Services
| Christian Year and other Special Days | Rites
of Passage | Christian Calendar | Worship
| Worship/Services Through the
Years |
|
 |
|
| The Christian Year Contents: The Christian Year and other Special Days | Colours of the Christian Year | Advent | Christmas | Epiphany | Candlemas | Lent | Easter | Pentecost | Trinity | St. James's Day | Michaelmas | Harvest Festival | All Saints Day | Remembrance Sunday |
The Christian Year - Michaelmas
 |
The Feast of Michael
and All Angels falls near the autumnal equinox, one of the two times
in the year when the sun is directly above the Earth's equator. This happens around March 20 and September 22 each year and is when night and day are nearly the same length. |
St. Michael, one of the most important angelic warriors, was seen as
a protector against the dark of night and so became very popular in
the Middle Ages. Because of this, the feast is associated with the beginning
of autumn and the shortening of days. St. Michael is still thought of
as the protector of people fighting against evil and he is one of the
patron saints of soldiers. His name was the war-cry of the good angels in the battle fought in heaven against the enemy. He is usually represented in a coat of armour, with a halo round his head and a sword in his hand, trampling on the fallen Lucifer or devil. He is often linked with St George because they both fought dragons. During the Middle Ages, Michaelmas was a great religious feast. Many popular traditions grew up around the day, which coincided with the end of harvest and the start of the new cycle of farming. |
 |
In England it was the custom
to celebrate with a well-fattened goose, fed on the stubble of the fields
after the harvest. This was supposed to protect against financial need
for the next year, being the time for beginning new leases, rendering
accounts and paying the annual dues. |
| Further Information |
|
 |
Contact
the Parish
Office 020 8941 6003 or the The
Vicar 020 8979 2069 |