Fare San Michele is an Italian idiom synonymous with moving day: in the mezzadria era, contracts between farm laborers and landowners expired on September 29, feast of Saint Michael, the day laborers moved on to other farms contracts.

A related saying, San Michele ribalto (“overturned” or “capsized”), describes any chaotic disorderly situation, or unexpected turn of events. This expression is linked to a tale of one such peasant family, for whom moving day ended disastrously with an overturned cart and their belongings scattered about and broken. The expression Fare San Martino has the same meaning, as November 11, the feast of Saint Martin, also saw the conclusion of seasonal farm work and the departure of laborers and their families.

pictured: Viesi, Roberto. “Alba di San Martino” (20th century)