Michaelmas at Home, Part Two: More Festive Ways to Celebrate the Feast of St. Michael and All Angels

ashleytumlinwallac
Sep 25
2 min read

In my previous post, I shared the history, meaning, and biblical background of the Feast of St. Michael and All Angels, along with a delicious recipe for Blackberry Hand Pies to mark the day.

If you missed it, be sure to go back and read that one first, it’s packed with theology, Scripture, and practical ways to understand who the angels are and why we celebrate them.

Now, let’s keep the celebration going with a few more fun and meaningful traditions, perfect for gathering your family, engaging your kids, and connecting your table with the life of the Church.

Fireworks & Festivities: Inspired by San Miguel de Allende

In San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, Michaelmas is joyfully celebrated with La Alborada, a pre-dawn festival (yes, 4 a.m.!) filled with fireworks, music, and processions honoring St. Michael as defender of the light.

Bring it home:

Surprise your kids with a sparkler walk at dawn (or dusk!)
Light candles and sing a hymn to start the day
Enjoy a sunrise breakfast together as a celebration of light overcoming darkness

Bake an Angel Food Cake

There’s something so fitting about serving light, airy, and white angel food cake for a feast dedicated to heavenly messengers.

Top it with seasonal blackberries for a nod to Michaelmas legends and a delicious, liturgically-minded dessert.

Did you know? Blackberries were once believed to turn bitter after Michaelmas, cursed by the dragon (Lucifer) after his fall from heaven.

Bake Traditional Scottish Bannocks

In Scotland, bannocks, simple, round barley or oat cakes, were baked for Michaelmas. They symbolized sustenance, blessing, and the turning of the seasons.

Make your own: Bannocks are quick to whip up and perfect for kids to help with. Serve warm with butter, jam, or honey for an easy, rustic breakfast or snack. Here’s a great recipe.

Slay the Dragon!

One of the most iconic images in Scripture comes from Revelation 12: St. Michael battling the dragon, a symbol of Satan and the forces of evil.

This moment captures the spiritual warfare that continues even now, and the victory we have through Christ.

Make it fun for kids:

Create or buy a dragon piñata.
Let children “slay the dragon” in the backyard with foam swords or wooden sticks.
Talk about what it means for Michael to fight for us still today.

Sing “Ye Watchers and Ye Holy Ones”

This hymn is a powerful chorus of praise, joining our voices with the angels and saints:

“Alleluia, angel choirs above are raising,Cherubim and seraphim, in unceasing chorus praising…”

Perfect for family prayer time, morning devotions, or even while baking together.

Tip: If your family enjoys singing, try teaching one verse each year and build your hymn knowledge slowly over time.

Let’s Get Ready Together

The Feast of St. Michael and All Angels gives us a vivid picture of the spiritual reality behind our everyday lives. It reminds us that we are not alone, that heaven is full of light and strength, and that God has surrounded us with help, protection, and love.

As you mark this feast in your home, whether through blackberries and bannocks, fireworks or hymns, know that you’re joining a long tradition of Christians who have sanctified their time with joy, beauty, and meaning.