Quinzaine refer to a period during which parliament met according to a Writ of Summons by the King. A specific example would be 1257 parliamentum for which the Rolls were latterly destroyed, probably by fire in 19th or 20th centuries. Its significance lay in the Charters used to confirm parliament's right to sit and be summoned at a specific date. "Parliamntum" or "parliamentum generalissimum" could be called every quarter, that coincided with Hilary, Easter, Trinity and Michaelmas terms, which also happened to be the legal terms for the Inns of Courts in Westminster and London. The quaint term of quindene was
Michaelmas games and horse races – migrated to this day. One of the few flowers left around at this time of year is the Michaelmas daisy (also known as asters). Hence the rhyme: "The Michaelmas daisies, among dead weeds, Bloom for St Michael's valorous deeds ..." A traditional meal for the day includes goose (a "stubble-goose", i.e. one prepared around harvest time). The custom of baking a special bread or cake, called (), "St Michael's bannock", or "Michaelmas Bannock" on the eve of the Feast of Saint Michael the Archangel probably originated in the Hebrides. The bread was made from equal