Michaelmas marks both the end of summer and the early days of autumn. (This year in Scotland the Autumn Equinox took place at exactly 1:05 BST on September 23..) The nights, as Mr McLean will inevitably say, are fair drawing in. We have eaten most of the apples on our early-bearing tree.
However, all is not sad for now we have an excuse to “coorie in,” my Dundee grandmother-in-law’s phrase for snuggling, either in a hug or under a blanket by the fire (or radiator) out of the cold. Coorie is Scotland’s answer to Denmark’s hygge (pronounced, I discover, hoo-gah). It involves fuzzy blankets and hot drinks after bracing walks in the mizzle. Apparently it also involves ceilidhs and dancing, and I’m all for that, too.
Here are two Farewell-to-September poems by a friend of Mrs McLean’s Waltzing Party. He has chosen to remain anonymous. I should explain that the Feast of Good “King” (really a Duke) Wenceslas is not in December but, indeed, September 28. Carrot Sunday is (or was, since few remember) always the Sunday prior to Michaelmas.
The poet says the new poem doesn’t make sense without last year’s, so here they are in order:
2025
Good King Wenceslas dropped out
On a Carrot Sunday.
Michaelmas came round about
The corner on the Monday.
Waltz and carrot cake and ale
Closed the days of Ember,
Danced and munched and raised wassail:
Curtains to September!
2026:
Wenceslas will not drop out:
He falls on a Monday.
Michael, he’ll come round about
On the third from Sunday.
Jerome, his day is number eight
From the We’nesday Ember.
Duke, Archangel, Exegete:
Curtains to September!
The next Mrs McLean’s Waltzing Party will be a Catholic Family All Saints Ceilidh on Sunday, October 25, 2026. This is for Parents & Bairns who love the Traditional Latin Mass and their Tradition-positive friends. Saint costumes warmly welcomed and encouraged! Suggested donation: £20 per family. All proceeds to the band.
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