The Devil's Curse on Blackberries

According to British folklore, after being cast out of heaven following his battle with the archangel Michael, the devil landed in a thorny blackberry bush, resulting in his curse on the blackberries. Some tales recount him stomping on them, spitting on them, or even urinating on them, effectively ruining the fruit. This traditional narrative correlates with the celebration of Michaelmas, a feast honoring Archangel Michael, which marks a significant period of superstitions surrounding blackberries. Eating the blackberries after Michaelmas was believed to attract misfortune or even bring fatal consequences, rooted in practical observations that frost could render them unsafe to eat.