Today, we look at the Scottish tradition of Michaelmas, also known as Harvest Home. This festive occasion marks the end of the harvest season and is steeped in history and folklore, dating back to ancient pagan origins.

The Pagan Roots of Harvest Home

Before the Christianization of Scotland, the end of the harvest season was celebrated with various pagan festivals dedicated to agricultural deities. These early festivals honored the earth’s fertility and the spirits of the land, thanking them for the successful harvest and ensuring their favor for the next growing season.

One such celebration was Lughnasadh, held around August 1st – which generally denotes the beginning of the harvest season. Named after the Celtic god Lugh, this festival marked the beginning of the harvest and included feasting, games, and rituals to ensure a bountiful yield. Although not directly Michaelmas, the themes of gratitude and community from Lughnasadh carried into later harvest celebrations.

Both Lùnastal (the Scots Gaelic name for both the month of August and the Festival held at the beginning of the month) and the Michaelmas festival share the Harvest theme as well as competition contests and horseracing in common. The Harvest theme continues into Samhuin/Samhain/Hallowmas at the end of October.

The Christian Influence

With the spread of Christianity, pagan traditions were often incorporated into Christian festivals. Michaelmas, celebrated on September 29th and dedicated to St. Michael the Archangel, became the Christian counterpart to the ancient harvest festivals. This day marked the official end of the harvest season and was a time for communities to come together in thanksgiving.

Historical Observances of Michaelmas in Scotland

The heart of Michaelmas in Scotland is the spirit of gratitude and community. Here are some historical customs that have been a part of Scottish Michaelmas celebrations:

• Feasting and Merrymaking: After weeks of hard work in the fields, communities gathered for a grand feast. Traditional foods included roasted meats, fresh bread, and an array of vegetables. The Michaelmas goose, believed to bring financial prosperity for the coming year, was a special treat, as was the Michaelmas lamb.
• Michaelmas Bannock: A significant part of the festivities was baking the Michaelmas Bannock, a type of bread made with the newly harvested grain. It was often cooked over an open flame and shared among the community, symbolizing unity and abundance.
• Rhymer’s Walk: In some regions, it was customary for a group of people, known as the Rhymer’s Walk, to go from house to house, singing traditional songs and reciting poems. This lively procession brought joy and a sense of communal spirit to the festivities.
• Hiring Fairs: Michaelmas was also the time for hiring fairs, where agricultural laborers would seek employment for the coming year. These fairs were social events, with music, dancing, and the exchange of goods.

Nature and Folklore

Michaelmas marked a shift in the seasons. As autumn deepened, the days grew shorter, and the nights cooler, the celebration served as a reminder of the changing cycles of nature. Folklore often depicted St. Michael as a warrior angel, symbolizing the triumph of light over darkness, good over evil. This theme resonated deeply in a season where daylight waned, and the world prepared for the long winter nights.

Horse and Cattle Fairs: In some areas, Michaelmas was associated with the holding of horse and cattle fairs. These events were important for the rural economy, as farmers traded livestock and other goods.

Gathering the Carrots: As noted in Carmina Gadelica, Volume 1, by Alexander Carmicheal, [1900], (online at sacred-texts.com) “The Eve of St Michael is the eve of bringing in the carrots, of baking the strūan,’ of killing the lamb, of stealing the horses. The Day of St Michael is the Day of the early mass, the day of the sacrificial Iamb, the day of the oblation ‘strūan,’ the day of the distribution of the Iamb, the day of the distribution of the ‘strūan,’ the day of the pilgrimage to the burial-ground of their fathers, the day of the burial-ground service, the day of the burial-ground circuiting, the day of giving and receiving the carrots with their wishes and acknowledgments, and the day of the ‘oda’–the athletics of the men and the racing of the horses And the Night of Michael is the night of the dance and the song, of the merry-making, of the love-making, and of the love-gifts.

Several weeks previously the people begin to speak of St Michael’s Day, and to prepare for Si Michael’s Festival. ‘Those concerned count whose turn it will be to guard the crops on St Michael’s Day and to circuit the townland on St Michael’s Night. The young men upon whom these duties fall arrange with old men to take their place on these occasions. As the time approaches the interest intensifies, culminating among the old in much bustle, and among the young in keen excitement.

Three plants which the people call carrots grow in Gist–the ‘daucus carota,’ the ‘daucus maritimus,’ and the ‘conium.’ ‘The ‘daucus carota’ is the original of the cultivated carrot. The ‘daucus maritimus is a long slender carrot, much like the parsnip in appearance and in flavour, and is rare in the British Isles. The ‘corium,’ hemlock, resembles the carrot, for which it is occasionally mistaken. It is hard, acrid, and poisonous.

Some days before the festival of St Michael the women and girls go to the fields and plains of the townland to procure carrots. The afternoon of the Sunday immediately preceding St Michael’s Day is specially devoted to this purpose, and on this account is known as ‘Domhnach Curran’–Carrot Sunday. When the soil is soft and friable, the carrots can be pulled out of the ground without digging. When, however, the soil is hard, a space is dug to give the hand access to the root. This space is made in the form of an equal-sided triangle, technically called ‘torcan,’ diminutive of ‘tore,’ a cleft. The instrument used is a small mattock of three prongs, called ‘tri-meurach,’ three-fingered, ‘sliopag.’ ‘sliobhag.’ The three-sided ‘torcan’ is meant to typify the three-sided shield, and the three-fingered ‘sliopag,’ the trident of St Michael, and possibly each to symbolise the Trinity. The many brightly-clad figures moving to and fro, in and out, like the figures in a kaleidoscope, are singularly pretty and picturesque. Each woman intones a rune to her own tune and time irrespective of those around her. The following fragment was intoned to me in a soft, subdued voice by a woman who had gathered carrots eighty years previously:

Should a woman find a forked carrot, she breaks out into a more exultant strain that brings her neighbours round to see and to admire her luck,

Michaelmas Handfastings

One particularly special tradition associated with Michaelmas in Scotland is the handfasting ceremony. Handfasting, a form of betrothal or trial marriage, was often conducted at this time of year. This ancient custom, which can be traced back to pre-Christian times, was a binding of hands and hearts, symbolizing a couple’s commitment to each other.

Symbolic Binding: During a handfasting ceremony, the couple’s hands would be tied together with a ribbon or cord, symbolizing their union. This act, rich in symbolism, represented the couple’s intention to remain together through the seasons, much like the agricultural cycles they depended on.

Trial Marriage: Historically, handfasting could serve as a trial marriage, lasting a year and a day. At the end of this period, the couple could choose to either formalize their union or part ways amicably. This practice allowed couples to test their compatibility and commitment.

Community Celebration: Handfastings were often community events, held during the larger Michaelmas festivities. Friends and family would gather to witness the ceremony, celebrate the couple’s union, and partake in the harvest feast.

Modern Revival: Today, handfasting ceremonies have experienced a revival, especially among those who appreciate their historical and cultural significance. Modern handfastings are often incorporated into wedding ceremonies, blending ancient traditions with contemporary practices.

Modern Celebrations

While many traditional practices have faded, some communities and families in Scotland still honor Michaelmas. Modern celebrations may include community gatherings, local fairs, and even school events where children learn about the history and significance of the day. In the United States this is often the season of County Fairs, a carry-over from our Immigrant Ancestors who brought their customs with them to their new homes — along with their old gods and household spirits as well.

Embracing Tradition

Whether through a simple meal shared with loved ones or participating in local events, embracing the spirit of Michaelmas can be a wonderful way to connect with the rhythms of nature and the traditions of our ancestors.

So, as September 29th approaches, why not take a moment to reflect on the harvest, give thanks for the abundance in your life, and perhaps enjoy a slice of Michaelmas Bannock with friends and family?

Further Reading

For those interested in diving deeper into the history of Michaelmas and Harvest Home, here are some recommended readings:

• “Stations of the Sun: A History of the Ritual Year in Britain” by Ronald Hutton – A comprehensive look at the traditional festivals of Britain, including Michaelmas.
• “The Year in Ireland: Irish Calendar Customs” by Kevin Danaher – An insightful exploration of Irish seasonal customs and their origins.
• “Celtic Fire: An Anthology of Celtic Festivals” by Ruth Hurlimann – This anthology covers various Celtic festivals, offering a glimpse into the traditions and celebrations of the past.
• “Scottish Folk-Lore and Folk Life” by Donald A. Mackenzie – A detailed account of Scottish folklore and customs, including those surrounding harvest time.
• “The Folklore of Orkney and Shetland” by Ernest W. Marwick – This book delves into the unique traditions of the Orkney and Shetland Islands, shedding light on their harvest customs.
• “The Silver Bough Volume 2: A Calendar of Scottish National Festivals – Candlemas to Harvest Home” by F. Marian McNeill – An indispensable treasury of Scottish culture, capturing and bringing to life many traditions and customs of old before they died out or were influenced by the modern era.

Blessed Michaelmas and may the spirit of the harvest bring you warmth and joy!

Blessings,