Spectral lights on the cistfaens at Michaelmas

29 September · Wales

Lore and belief

An old Welsh superstition held that at Michaelmas the cistfaens, the stone graves of ancient warriors, were lit by spectral lights all over Wales. It was very unlucky to walk near them on Michaelmas Eve or night, when the warriors’ ghosts fought deadly battles round their lonely resting places. Trevelyan adds that Michaelmas was once regarded with suspicion in Wales as a day of uncanny power.

the Cistfaens, or warriors' graves, in all parts of the Principality were illuminated by spectral lights

From Trevelyan's Folk-Lore of Wales, p. 253. Read the original

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Folklore from the old calendars

Goose on Michaelmas Day Lore and belief EnglandRoast goose was the Michaelmas dinner, when stubble geese were at their best, and it was said that whoever ate goose that day would never want money all year.
St Michael’s Bannock No longer kept Inner Hebrides, Outer HebridesMartin's account of the Western Isles, quoted by Hone, says the islanders kept St Michael's Day with a cavalcade in each parish, and at Kilbar with a turn round the church.
St Michael’s Sheep in Ireland No longer kept IrelandMacaulay, quoted by Hone, says that in Ireland every family that could afford it killed a sheep on Michaelmas Day, and part of it had by law to go to the poor.
The Moon and the Michaelmas Floods Lore and belief EnglandAn old weather saying held that you could count the floods of the coming season from the moon on Michaelmas Day.
The Lawless Hour at Kidderminster No longer kept WorcestershireWhen Kidderminster chose its bailiff at Michaelmas, the town-house bell gave the signal for an hour in which the townspeople pelted each other with cabbage stalks in the main streets.
Burying the Mace at Nottingham No longer kept NottinghamshireOn Michaelmas Day, when Nottingham's new mayor took office, the corporation went in procession to St Mary's Church.
Chopping Sticks and Counting Hobnails Still kept London, ShropshireAt Michaelmas the new sheriffs of London went by barge to Westminster to be sworn in at the Court of Exchequer, where the City also paid two ancient quit rents.
The Old Mayor’s Geese at Nottingham No longer kept NottinghamshireNottingham chose its mayor on Michaelmas Day, and Deering's History of Nottingham records that the outgoing mayor used to give hot roast geese at his house that morning, before the election of his successor.
Half an Apple Goes to the Core Lore and belief SuffolkThe 1849 edition of Brand prints a rhyme said to be proverbial in Suffolk for Michaelmas and the apple season.
Carrying the Fly away at Michaelmas No longer kept OxfordshireOn Michaelmas Day the Oxford cooks rode out again to the green to carry away the Fly they had fetched in at Whitsun.
The devil’s foot on the brambles Lore and belief Northern EnglandNorthern children were warned never to eat blackberries after Michaelmas Day, because the devil passed his cloven foot over them then.
Hipping Day No longer kept YorkshireIn Yorkshire Michaelmas Day was called Hipping Day, after a confection made from hips, the red berries of the wild rose.
Tufts of wool at the Wycombe hiring No longer kept BuckinghamshireAt the Michaelmas hiring fair in High Wycombe market place, farm servants showed their trade on their hats: shepherds wore tufts of wool, cowmen a tuft of hair and ploughmen knotted whipcord.
The Michaelmas daisy Lore and belief EnglandThe Michaelmas daisy was said to bloom among the dead weeds for St Michael's valorous deeds, and to be the last flower standing until the feast of St Simon and St Jude in late October.
Guardian angels at Michaelmas Lore and belief EnglandMichaelmas, the feast of St Michael and all angels, was the usual time to elect the governors of towns and cities.
A freeholder of Macclesfield at Michaelmas Lore and belief CheshireIn Cheshire a greedy eater was said to feed like a freeholder of Macclesfield, who has neither corn nor hay at Michaelmas.
Fresh herring and fat crones at Michaelmas No longer kept EnglandMichaelmas brought fresh herring in plenty and the fattened crones, old ewes too worn in the teeth to keep the sheepwalk.
The new farmer comes in at Michaelmas No longer kept EnglandMichaelmas was when a new farmer took over his farm and had to start his husbandry afresh.
Saint Michael and the marsh wall No longer kept EnglandMichaelmas was the time to mend the sea walls round the coastal marshes before the winter tides.
Winter fruit gathered after Michaelmas Lore and belief EnglandFruit meant to keep was to be gathered with the moon on the wane, and winter fruit not until Michaelmas was past.
Stying the boar for Hallowtide brawn No longer kept EnglandAt Michaelmas the boar was shut up in his sty to fatten for brawn, ready for killing at Hallowtide.
Michaelmas rent and the landlord’s credit No longer kept EnglandMichaelmas, 29 September, was the quarter day when rents fell due and the landlord came to collect.
Electing the magistrates at Michaelmas No longer kept EnglandTown councils and magistrates were chosen on Michaelmas Day, and Chambers traced the custom to the medieval belief in guardian angels.
The Michaelmas cavalcade on Canna No longer kept Inner Hebrides, Inverness-shireEvery man on Canna rode out at Michaelmas on an unsaddled horse with a girl or his neighbour's wife behind him, and rode back and forth between the village and a cross.
Horses round the Hill of Angels on Iona No longer kept Argyll, Inner HebridesOn the feast of St Michael the people of Iona brought their horses to a small stone circle on the Hill of Angels and raced them round it.
The Welsh Michaelmas cake No longer kept WalesAt Michaelmas the Welsh housewife baked a very large loaf-cake of currant dough risen with barm, called the Michaelmas cake.
St Michael feathering his geese Lore and belief Denbighshire, WalesFalling snow was said in Wales to be St Michael, the patron of geese, feathering his flock in heaven, and the first goose brought to table was the Michaelmas goose, also called a green goose.
The Hastings curfew from Michaelmas No longer kept SussexAt Hastings the curfew bell was still tolled at eight o'clock every evening through the winter half of the year, from Michaelmas to Lady Day.

Spectral lights on the cistfaens at Michaelmas

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