L. M. M.
The Michaelmas Goose.
—Why it is that here in England—
"—— by custom (right divine)
Geese are ordained to bleed at Michael's shrine,"
is a mystery still unsolved by English antiquaries. For, even if the story that Queen Elizabeth was eating a goose on Michaelmas Day when she received the news of the defeat of the Spanish Armada, rested on unquestionable authority, it would not explain the origin of the custom, since Brand has shown, by a reference to Blount's Jocular Tenures, that it existed as early as the tenth year of Edward IV. If we seek an illustration from the practice of our continental neighbours, we shall fail; or only learn that we have transferred to the Feast of St. Michael a practice which is observed abroad on that of St. Martin, the 11th November: indeed, St. Martin's Bird is a name by which the goose is known among many of the continental nations. In the Runic Calendar the 11th November is marked by a goose. In the old Bauern Practica (ed. 1567), Wintermonat or November boasts, in one of the Rhymes of the Month,—
"Fat geese unto the rich I sell."
And in the curious old Story Book of Peter Leu, reprinted by von der Hagen in his Narrenbuch, one of the adventures commences:
"It fell upon St. Martin's Day,
When folks are wont goose-feasts to keep."