Michaelmas Folklore: Blackberries, the Devil, and a Lingering Curse

"Once he was cast out, Lucifer promptly fell straight into a blackberry bush, and a blackberry bush would not make for a soft landing.

Incensed, Lucifer cursed the blackberry fruit, making them unfit for consumption."

September 29th

Michaelmas is celebrated on September 29th every year.

Since the Middle Ages, English farmers used Michaelmas to mark the change of seasons as it falls near the equinox.

Michaelmas is a quarter day - marking one of the four quarter days of the year, each three months apart, along with Christmas (December 25th), Lady Day (March 25th), and Midsummer (June 24th).

At Michaelmas, it was time to wrap up the reaping and prepare for winter.

According to folklore, bounty-thorn (the English folk name for blackberries) must be picked by Michaelmas because that was the day that Lucifer was expelled from Heaven.

Once he was cast out, Lucifer promptly fell straight into a blackberry bush, and a blackberry bush would not make for a soft landing.

Incensed, Lucifer cursed the blackberry fruit, making them unfit for consumption.

So unless you want to eat tainted blackberries, get them picked before Sunday.

And don't forget, blackberries make a lovely pie or crumble.