The feast day of St. Michael, often called Michaelmas, takes place on September 29 every year. Part of the reason Michaelmas slowly became a less predominant holiday was because of the growing popularity of other harvest season holidays. In North America, Michaelmas was most notably displaced by Thanksgiving, which became a national holiday in 1863. The truth is that many of the traditions associated with Michaelmas find themselves echoed in the modern traditions of Thanksgiving. Today, St. Michael is commonly known as the patron saint of police officers, first responders, and military personnel.