On September 29, the Church celebrates the Feast of the Archangels: St. Michael, St. Gabriel, and St. Raphael. These heavenly messengers remind us of God’s protection, guidance, and healing.

Tradition also calls this day Michaelmas, and in many parts of Europe it marked the changing of seasons. One beloved custom is eating blackberries on this feast—because folklore tells us that after St. Michael defeated Satan, the devil fell into a blackberry bush and cursed its fruit. From that day on, people believed blackberries should be eaten before Michaelmas, as a way of marking the Archangel’s victory over evil.

Today, we can bring that tradition into our homes, filling this feast with both prayer and blackberry-themed meals.

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Breakfast: Blackberry Angel Food Parfaits

Start the day with an angelic breakfast: cubes of angel food cake layered with blackberries, whipped cream, and a drizzle of honey. It’s light, sweet, and perfectly symbolic of the Archangels.

Recipe Inspiration: Adapt from Angel Food Cake Parfaits, adding plenty of fresh blackberries.

Shopping List:

• 1 loaf prepared angel food cake
• Cream cheese
• Agave nectar
• Plain greek yogurt
• Salt
• Cool Whip
• Strawberries
• Blackberries
• Raspberries

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Song for the Day: “Ye Watchers and Ye Holy Ones”

This hymn calls on all the choirs of angels and saints to praise God. Sing or play it during family prayer as you begin your celebration.

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Craft for Kids: Blackberry Crown for St. Michael

Help kids make a crown decorated with blackberry-colored beads, sequins, or paper dots. It symbolizes Michael’s victory and the tradition of eating blackberries on his feast.

Materials:

• Cardstock strips or paper headbands
• Purple/black beads, buttons, or tissue paper balls (to look like blackberries)
• Glue or tape
• Gold/yellow paper for a halo accent

Instructions:
Shape the strip into a crown and decorate with “blackberries.” Children can wear their crowns to dinner or place one near a statue or image of St. Michael.

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Lunch: Blackberry Chicken Pita Pockets

To honor St. Gabriel the Messenger, serve “message pockets.” Fill pita bread with grilled chicken, greens, and a homemade blackberry vinaigrette for a flavorful, symbolic lunch.

Recipe Inspiration: Use this Blackberry Balsamic Chicken Salad as a filling idea.

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Dinner: Michaelmas Roast with Blackberry Sauce

Traditionally, Michaelmas was celebrated with roast goose. Serve it with roasted root vegetables and a rich blackberry pan sauce for a festive meal.

Recipe Inspiration: Try this Pan Seared Canada Goose Breasts with Blackberry Sauce.

Shopping List:

• 2 Canada Goose breasts, skin on
• Oil
• Salt & Pepper
• Fresh blackberries- Frozen will do in a pinch if fresh berries are out of season
• Sugar
• Lemon
• Cinnamon sticks

For dessert, enjoy a Blackberry Crisp or Blackberry Bannock (a nod to the Scottish Michaelmas oat cake). It’s the perfect way to end the blackberry feast.

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Closing Prayer

End the day with your family gathered around a candle or crucifix:

Prayer to the Archangels

St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle.
St. Gabriel, messenger of God’s Word, inspire us to listen.
St. Raphael, healer and guide, protect us on our journey.

Holy Archangels,
watch over our homes and hearts.
May we, like you, serve God faithfully,
and rejoice in His victory over evil.
Amen.

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By celebrating the Feast of the Archangels with blackberries, we join a centuries-old tradition that ties faith to the rhythms of the season. Just as St. Michael triumphed over the devil, we too can rejoice that Christ’s victory is ours.