An Evening of Fun Celebrating the Autumn Equinox and Michaelmas at St. James Church, Essex Junction
Anam Cara Sojourners invites you to an evening of fun and food to celebrate the autumn equinox and Michaelmas. We’ll begin with a simple potluck at 5:00, followed by viewing the animated movie, The Secret of Kells, and end by 7:30 with brief Celtic-themed worship. Held at St. James Church, 4 St. James Place, Essex Junction. All are welcome from any tradition.
The autumnal equinox (September 23) is the time when the day and night are of equal length. This was a solar festival of great importance to the ancient Irish, who used the sky as both clock and calendar. Up until the autumn equinox the hours of daylight outnumbered those of darkness. This turning point was a time to give thanks for the fruits of the earth, get prepared for the colder months to follow, and acknowledge the harsh times ahead.
The Christian equivalent of the autumnal equinox is Michaelmas, the feast of St Michael the Archangel (September 29) who defeated Lucifer and is seen as the protector against the dark of night. The roots of Michaelmas can be traced all the way back to the third century when it was converted from a pagan spring festival to a Christian feast day. However, while it was a widely practiced religious holiday, it wouldn’t become an official feast day until the fifth century.
We hope you will join us! Please contact The Rev. Kim Hardy revkimhardy@gmail.com for more information.