29/09/2026
🌟 Michaelmas 🌟
Did you know that the Angel depicted on our sign & associated with The Angel Inn is St. Michael the Archangel? Today, 29th September, marks Michaelmas - the feast day of St. Michael & All Angels - so it seems fitting to tell you a little more about this Saint and his association with our local area.
On our sign, the Archangel is shown drawing his sword in preparation to slay a dragon. He is often depicted in the act of slaying the devil - sometimes represented as a demon, serpent or dragon. In many traditions he is associated with courage, valour and driving out evil. Symbols that represent him are a shield, sword or spear and weighing scales.
Many of you will be familiar with the Skirrid Mountain (Ysgyryd Fawr), which is also known as St. Michaels Mount, due to once being the site of a chapel dedicate to the saint - the remains of which are still present at the summit. Pilgrimages were made to the church on Michaelmas Eve and Michaelmas, and it was used during and after the reformation as a site for Catholics to worship.
Locally, you will find many churches dedicated to St. Michael, and often find place names with Llanfihangel in their name. ‘Llan’ meaning church and ‘Fihangel’ meaning ‘Michael Archangel’.
St. Michael’s patronages include dying people, poor souls, the military, police and grocers.
Michaelmas is often associated with the turning of the seasons and the end of the productive agricultural period. In the past, it was customary to dine on a stubble goose (a goose fattened on the stubble of harvested fields).
So, in the spirit of Michaelmas, and as the nights grow darker we wish you all a safe and prosperous year ahead!
