Preparing for Michaelmas and All Saints Day

August and September tend to be the months where I feel inspired to prepare for the second half of the year. I credit this to the multiple special anniversaries and events that fill the calendar and the anticipation of autumn, my favorite season. This year, thanks to Kendra Adachi’s book, the Lazy Genius, I’ve been especially motivated to outline our liturgical celebrations well in advance. I haven’t been overly intentional about them in years past, so I’m grateful for the rush of inspiration this year.

On Planning Ahead

I didn’t grow up knowing much about the church year. Planning ahead is one way where I can familiarize myself with the seasons beforehand. Even though it’s been a few years since we started to explore Anglicanism and the liturgical year, I still find myself wading in unknown waters. Reading up on seasonal themes and making note of traditions outside of the season itself takes pressure off to “get it right”. Of course, that’s not why we celebrate and remember liturgical time in the first place, but removing that pressure helps me identify what about a season or feast day I actually want to remember.

Earlier in July, I found a simple 18-month wall calendar and flipped through it to mark the special days in our family’s year: birthdays, anniversaries, semester milestones, and holidays. I also made notes of particular liturgical seasons and feast days, according to the Revised Common Lectionary. I also marked solstice and equinox dates. This calendar hangs on the side of a large cabinet in our kitchen where we can’t help but stop and take a glance every so often.

I gathered some of my favorite resources on the church year and culled a few simple observances to form a couple family traditions from now through Epiphany. I’ve written down what we’d like to make or do (generally, of course) on a sticky note fixed to the corresponding month. When I’m preparing a list for the grocery store I’ll be reminded of the necessary prep work. Fingers crossed!

Autumnal Celebrations

This fall there are two days in the church calendar we’d like to remember as a family: Michaelmas and All Saints Day. These two liturgical holidays fall near other festivities, the autumn equinox and Halloween, as well as other international celebrations like Day of the Dead.

Michaelmas, September 29

Michaelmas is a feast day that remembers the angel Michael and other archangels, Rafael and Gabriel. These mighty angels are said to have defeated Lucifer in Revelation 12. Theologically, I’m not sure what I believe about the specifics of this biblical story, but I’m very happy to celebrate the idea of divine protection as the days become shorter and darker. I thought it would be fun to prepare tasty maple treats to mark Michaelmas and the autumn equinox. When the time comes, I’ll decide between homemade maple ice cream or scones.

All Saints Day, November 1

All Saints Day, or All Hallows’ day, honors the lives of those who went on before us. It’s important to consider our mortality regularly, as contemplating death can clarify what’s important to us and refocus our attention. The author of Hebrews reminds us there is a “cloud of witnesses”. Whether saints or loved ones, these witnesses encourage us to lay aside the things that keep us from Love. With this in mind, it’s the perfect time to revisit the family tree. Aaron started earlier this year, but we’ll continue working on it.

I’m hoping this bit of advance planning allows us to welcome these special days with delight and anticipation. What might your autumnal celebrations look like?